YIELD OF WATERMELON AS INFLUENCED BY PLANT SPACING

Abstract

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai) cultivars Starbrite and Crimson Sweet were grown during 1991 and 1992 in 1.5 m wide rows at plant spacings of 0.9 m, 1.5 m, or 2.2 m. Total fruit yield, marketable fruit yield, fruit size distribution, and estimated gross returns were determined for the different spacing treatments. Total and marketable fruit yields were greater overall for `Starbrite' than for `Crimson Sweet'. With the exception of 1991 `Crimson Sweet' yields, marketable fruit yields per unit land area increased 29% to 34% as plant spacing was decreased from 2.2 m to 0.9 m. The yield component contributing the most to increased yields with higher density plantings was increased fruit number per unit land area. Average fruit weight responded only slightly to decreased plant spacing. Fruit size distribution on a relative frequency scale was stable regardless of plant spacing or production year. The potential for increasing gross returns per unit land area exists by increasing watermelon plant populations beyond the current Georgia recommendation of 2500 to 3000 plants ha-1.