PLASTIC SOIL MULCHING, ROW COVERS AND DEVELOPMENT AND YIELD OF WATERMELON AND SQUASH CROPS

Abstract

Soil mulching alone usually increases crop yields, but it is not common to study its effect when it is combined with row covers. Four treatments: black plastic mulch (BPM), black plastic mulch plus row cover (BRC), row cover (RC), and bare soil (control) were replicated four times in a randomized complete block design in watermelon (Citrillus vulgaris Schard.) and squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) crops. In watermelon, BPM, BRC, and RC were better than the control in stem lenght, and cover; days to harvest decreased in 9, 8, and 3 days, yield was increased in 108, 96, and 35 % with BPM, BRC, and RC in relation with the control that registered 13.6 t ha-1. In squash crop, treatments were also better than the control in plant height, and cover; days to harvest decreased 2 and 1 day with BPM and BRC, but not with RC; yield was increased in 77, 56, and 39 %, over the control (13.1 t ha-1). The use of BPM alone, in order to increase the yield in watermelon and squash crops, is suggested.