Ramon A. Arancibia and Carl E. Motsenbocker*,
Department of Horticulture, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center,
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803

Keywords:  soil and air temperatures, earliness and total yield

Abstract:  Modification of the plant environment has been widely used to enhance horticultural crop growth and yield, and also for season extension in cooler climates.  Some of the beneficial effects of plastic mulch and row cover are modification of soil and air temperature, and often increased early and/or total yield. The impact of row covers on muskmelon yield, however, has been variable.  In this study, we investigated the effects of three plastic mulches, silver on black (gray) (Climagro, LECO Industries, St-Laurent, Quebec, Canada), PST-Green (Ken-Bar Inc, Reading, Mass.), and black (Climagro) in combination with spunbonded polyester row cover (Reemay, Ken-Bar Inc) on spring-planted watermelon production.  Two red-fleshed cultivars, “Sangria” (seeded) and “Crimson Jewel” (triploid, commonly called seedless) were used.  All plastic mulches increased soil temperature, and resulted in higher and earlier yield and net economic benefit compared with bare ground for both cultivars.  There were no differences among plastic mulch treatments.  The row cover treatment increased soil and air temperature; this effect was greater at lower temperatures.  During a light freeze event, the row cover treatments resulted in about 4 °C temperature increase.  Row cover treatment increased early harvest in “Sangria” and total yield in both varieties.  Fruit weight in both varieties with row cover, however, was lower than treatments without row cover.  In addition, the added cost of row cover did not justify its use based on net benefit analysis. 

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