Rosario Quezada Martin; Juan Munguía López
Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada
Blvd. Enrique Reyna # 140
Saltillo, Coahuila México
e-mail: rquezada@polimex.ciqa.mx
Manuel de la Rosa Ibarra;
Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro
Saltillo, Coahuila México
Rodolfo Faz Contreras
INIFAP, CELALA
Matamoros, Coahuila. México

Keywords: mulch, net assimilation rate, relative growth rate, leaf area, yield

Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of mulching on growth and yield of a melon crop cultivar ‘Laguna’. Field-work was carried out at the Laguna Region of Coahuila, México. The treatments evaluated were: black and clear photo and photobiodegradable plastic cover sheets and conventional plastic films, the control was bare soil.  A randomized block design was used, the variables analyzed were: net assimilation rate (NAR), relative growth rate (RGR), leaf area ratio (LAR), leaf weight ratio (LWR) and yield.  NAR and RGR in the initial growth phase were increased by 100% in all plots with plastic mulch compared to bare soil, but in the final stage NAR and RGR in bare soil were about 50% higher than the mulched treatments, these results clearly indicate that in plastic mulch all growth processes were accelerated. Leaf area ratio and leaf weight ratio in the  treatments with plastic mulch were similar, but higher 10-20% than bare soil. All treatments with plastic mulch produced higher yields (40-50 ton/ha), than the yield obtained without mulch (26 ton/ha). This study indicates that assimilation and growth rate such as quantity and weight the crop canopy plays an important role in the productivity of melon crop.

PDF Order Form
Secure Server Order Form