Standrdisation of population density in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Mansf.)
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Date
2000
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Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani
Abstract
The present investigation on "Standardisation of population density
in watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thimb.) mansf.]" was conducted at the
Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram
during February - May, 1999 .. Three watermelon varieties viz., Sugar
Baby, Arka Manik and MHW -6 were tried under six population densities
to find out their direct and indirect effects on vegetative yield and quality
attributes in watermelon. Majority of the characters were significantly
influenced by the direct as well as interaction effects of the population
density and varieties.
Among the varieties, Arka Manik was earlier for male and female
flower opening and for days' to first harvest. However, the node to first
female flower was in Sugar Baby which also had more female flowers
planr".
The population density significantly influenced majority of the
vegetative characters. Lower to moderate population density had shorter
crop duration, branches planr ' and vine length.
Different density levels significantly influenced the yield
characters. Total fruits planr ', Total fruits plor ', Marketable fruits planr",
2
Marketable fruits plor ' ,Marketable yield plant"! were maximum in plants
grown at highest density of 10000 plants ha". The variety Sugar Baby
was first in all these yield characters.
Sugar Baby also had the highest values for diameter, flesh
thickness, rind thickness, fruit girth and seeds fruir '. The hybrid MHW-6
had maximum average fruit weight, fruit length and 100 seed weight.
Among the quality parameters, Sugar Baby had maximum values
for total sugars and reducing sugars whereas, Arka Manik recorded the
highest values for total soluble solids, non-reducing sugars and iron
content. The plants at moderate spacings recorded highest values for the
quality characters.
Majority of the characters were influenced by the interaction of
population densities and varieties also. Sugar Baby at a moderate
population density of 3333 plants ha! had maximum branches plant"! ..
The number of fruits plor ' was highest in Sugar Baby at the highest
population of 10000 plants ha:". This treatment combination also had
maximum marketable yield plor ' registering maximum yield of 55 t ha! and
maximum income of Rs. 165000 with the highest bene:{it cost ratio of
3.00 : 1.00.
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MSc
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Citation
171675