Effect of Different Mulching Material on Watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.)] Hybrid under Prayagraj Agro-climatic Condition

The present field experiment was carried out during 2021-2022 at the Vegetable Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replications and nine treatments. The investigation was carried out with a view to study the effect of different mulching material on growth, yield and quality of watermelon. The results of the experiment revealed that plant growth was superior with silver plastic mulch with respect to days of germination, numbers of branches per vine and vine length. Plants without mulch (control) resulted poor growth. Watermelon plants mulched with silver plastic recorded maximum number of leaves; whereas, minimum was in control. The yield characters such as fruit length, fruit diameter, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight and number of fruits per plot were recorded significantly highest in the mulch treatment with silver plastic mulch. Similarly, the highest fruit yield per plot (27.52kg) and fruit yield per hectare of watermelon (66.04 t/ha) was also observed with the same treatment. From the economic point of view, silver plastic mulch resulted in the highest net return and also highest cost ratio. The quality characters such as highest fruit pulp weight and lowest acidity were noted in mulching treatment silver plastic mulch. This treatment also recorded maximum vitamin C, TSS. It is concluded that application different mulches in which silver plastic mulch significantly superior in growth, yield and quality parameter. Similarly, with economic point of view, treatment silver plastic mulch resulted in the highest net return and cost: benefit ratio.