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Response of Watermelon to Irrigation in Saline Soils of Coastal Area

A. R. Akanda
Chief Scientific Officer
IWM Division, BARI, Gazipur

S. K. Biswas
Senior Scientific Officers
IWM Division, BARI, Gazipur

S. Mondal
Professor
IWFM, BUET, Dhaka

A. Saleh
Professor
IWFM, BUET, Dhaka

Zofer
Professor
SSD, BAU, Mymenshingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This study was conducted at the farmers' field of Amtali, Barguna to investigate the effects of irrigation on yield and yield components of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus ) in coastal saline area of Bangladesh, during January - April, 2014. Irrigation at 5, 10, 15 days interval were compared with farmers' practice irrigation that received a total three irrigation throughout the growing season. The electrical conductivity of canal water used for irrigation was ranged from 2.6 to 3.4 dS/m. The growth and yield of watermelon responded positively to different irrigation intervals. The irrigated treatment produced the bigger size and higher number of watermelon per plant. Small size fruit and less number of fruits per plant were obtained in farmers' practice (control) treatment. The highest fruit yield of watermelon (37.7 t/ha) was obtained from the treatment plots where irrigation water was applied at 5- days intervals. The second highest yield (33.67 t/ha) was obtained in 10-day interval irrigation. Farmers' practice treatment that received irrigation at 25 days interval produced the lowest yield of 20.47 t/ha. Though the yield and total water use (455 mm) was found the highest in 5-day intervals while the lowest (1.93 kg/m3) was attained from control treatment. The soil salinity was found to be gradually increased from 2.0 dS/m - 8.52 dS/m with minimum at sowing time and maximum at harvest. Frequent irrigation helped to decrease soil salinity considerably.

Keywords: Watermelon, Irrigation, Coastal area

Location: Barguna

Start Date: 00-00-2013

End Date: 00-00-2014

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Irrigation scheduling

Objectives:

To identify the best irrigation strategy for cultivation of watermelon in coastal saline soil

Methodology:

Field experiment on watermelon (cv. Hybrid- Big family) was conducted in 2014 at the farmers' field of Kalibiri village under upzila of Amtali, Barguna district. The soil was clay loam with field capacity of 28%, bulk density of 1.36 gm/cc and initial salinity was 3.32 dS/m. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Each experimental plot area of 12.5 m² and included 4 pits with a single plant in each pit. Four irrigation treatments, differing in irrigation rate were evaluated. The irrigation treatments were as follows:

T₁ = Irrigation at 5 days interval after emergence up to fruit setting

T₂ = Irrigation at 10 days interval after emergence up to fruit setting

T₃ = Irrigation at 15 days interval after emergence up to fruit setting

T₄ = Three irrigation at 25, 50 and 75 days after emergence

The experimental field was irrigated with slightly saline water having electrical conductivity ranging from 2.6 to 3.4 dS/m. The experimental plots were separated by a distance of 1.0 meter serving as a barrier to prevent lateral movement of water from one plot to another. The unit plot size was 3.5 m x 3.5 m. Fertilizers were applied at a rate of N83P24K40S16Kg/ha in the form of urea, triple super phosphate, muriate of potash and gypsum, respectively. Decomposed cow dung was also used at a rate of 5 t/ha. Half of P and K, and full dose of S and cowdung were applied during pit preparation. The remaining half of P and K was applied at branching stage (30 days after emergence). The N was applied into four equal splits at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after emergence. Seeds of watermelon were planted in pit spaced at 1.5 m x 1.5 m on 17 January 2014. Intercultural operations were done as and when necessary. The crop was protected against diseases and pests by spraying recommended dose of pesticides. Soil moisture was monitored prior to irrigation and measured amount of water was applied according to the treatments. The crop was harvested on 15-25 April 2014 when fruits were matured for consumption. The data like number of fruits per plot, average weight of fruit, fruit yield and above-ground biomass (except fruit) were recorded at harvest. Days to flower initiation, fruit setting and days to fruit maturity were also recorded. Soil samples were collected at 10 days interval to determine salinity dynamics of soil. Finally, analysis of variance of the growth and yield parameters of watermelon was done for the RCB design using MSTAT-C.

Source of Information: Annual Research Report, IWM Division, BARI--2013-14

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Irrigation with canal water of 2.6-3.4 dS/m had a significant effect on increasing the fruit yield of watermelon and decreasing soil salinity. The highest fruit yield (37.70 t/ha) of watermelon was obtained from the treatment receiving irrigation at 5 days interval. The fruit yield obtained under 10 days interval of irrigation (33.67 t/ha) was at par with that obtained under 5 days interval, while the lowest (20.47 t/ha) was obtained from farmers practice (Control ). On an average, the fruit yield increased by 11% for 5 days interval, compared to the farmers' practice (control treatment). Though the yield and total water use (455 mm) was found the highest in 5-day intervals irrigation, while the lowest (1.93 kg/m3) was attained from control treatment. The soil salinity was found to be gradually increased from 2.0 dS/m - 8.52 dS/m with minimum at sowing time and maximum at harvest. Frequent irrigation helped to decrease soil salinity considerably.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings