Values of Winter Fallow Crops on Soil Properties and Watermelon Productivity in Plastic Greenhouse

Abstract

This study was performed to screen fallow crops during winter period for improvement of soil quality and utilizing as mulching material in watermelon cropping system during winter period. Five fallow crops, mainly, hairy vetch, barley, rye, oat and wheat, were sown in early November. They were mowed for covering the soil surface instead of polyethylene (PE) film before watermelon planting in early April the following year. The highest absorbed nutrients and dry matter yield were found in rye. Bulk density in plots with fallow crop was lower than control plot. There was observed no significant differences among the fallow crops. However, porosity was the lowest in control plot. Soil EC reduced to 12%, 13%, 14%, 16% and 22%, respectively, by cultivation of hairy vetch, oat, wheat, barley and rye. Microbial biomass carbon and dehydrogenase activities were higher in soil treated with gramineous crops, such as barley, rye and oat. The growth of watermelon was more affected by regeneration of fallow crop than the occurrence of weed, especially in plots treated with rye or oat. Also, the fruit damage by aphid was found severe in these treatment plots. The fruit yield in plots treated with hairy vetch and barley was increased 5.7% and 2.6%, respectively, compared to that of PE films. The present experiment findings implied that these fallow crops had significant beneficial effects on improvement of soil qualities and could be utilized for mulching materials in watermelon cropping system.