Integrated crop management (ICM) practices to enhance watermelon yield and farm income

Abstract

Field demonstrations on integrated crop management (ICM) practices on watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L) to increase the yield and farm income were conducted in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Vridhachalam, Cuddlaore district, Tamil Nadu. In total, ten farmers were selected in three blocks viz Kattumannarkoil, Vridhachalam and Panruti of Cuddalore district. Critical inputs viz Azospirillum, phosphobacteria, Pseudomonos flurescense and ethrel were distributed to the farmers along with seeds of watermelon variety Arka Muthu. The biofertlizers and bio-inoculant were applied in the soil @ 25 g per plant. Foliar application of ethrel @ 200 ppm was done at 15 days after sowing and repeated three times at weekly interval. It was observed that ICM practices viz high yielding variety Arka Muthu, soil application of biofertilizers Azospirillum and phosphobacteria and bio-inoculant P flurescense each @ 25 g per plant and foliar application of ethrel @ 200 ppm registered higher values for number of fruits per plant (3.80), fruit weight (3.40 kg) and fruit yield (398.71 q/ha). The demonstration plots registered higher net income of Rs 1,99,104.28 compared to check which registered a net income of Rs 1,40,455.55 and higher B-C ratio of 2.55 as compared to 1.89 in local check.