WATERMELON PRODUCTION

A Simplified Guide

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By Dahlia Shumba 0775589553
 Watermelon Production
Classification Crop Watermelon
Family Curcubitaceae
Genus Citrullus
Species lanatus
Soil requirements Soils Organically rich loam soils with good drainage
pH 5.5-6.5
Climatic requirements Temperature 20-27⁰C
Time of planting All year round in frost free areas
Seed requirement Seeds/gram 10
Seeds/ha 1.5kg
Spacing Interrow 120-150cm
Inrow 60-75cm
Plant population Minimum 9000
Maximum 14000
Recommended 10000
Varieties Crimson sweet, Tiger F1, Kito F1, Fahari F1, Baraka F1
Fertilisation
Application Fertiliser Rate per plant
Manure Well rotten manure 1.5kg
Basal Vegetable blend 40g
Top dressing Ammonium Nitrate 5g
Potassium nitrate 10g
Well rotten manure and Compound C
• Make a basin of 30cm diameter and 20cm deep
• Apply a heaped shovel of manure (approx. 3kg) and add 120g of compound C, then mix thoroughly with the
soil and irrigate to field capacity before planting
• Place 3 seeds per station, a day after irrigation and continue maintaining moisture level until germination.
Thin to two plants per station

Ammonium nitrate
• Apply 5g (Cup 5) at week 2 after emergence

Potassium nitrate
• Split apply equally (Cup 5) at week 4 and 6

Supplementary fertilisers
• Wuxal macromix- spray at week 2 and 6 at 1ltr/ha or 80ml/16ltr
• Wuxal calcibor- spray at week 8 at 1ltr/ha or 80ml/16ltr
• Zalexin- spray from week 4 at 2ltr/ha or 160ml/16ltr

NB: Foliar fertilisers are supplements. More supplementary fertilisers are available on the market
*Total fertiliser application = Rate/plant * Plant population (Divide by 1000 to convert to kgs)

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 Herbicides
Pre-emergence Metolachlor

Post-emergence Propaquizafop, Fluazifop-p-Butyl

Insects
Aphids Imidacloprid, Acetamiprid, Malathion, Dichlorvos, Dimethoate

Leafhopper Methomyl, Imidacloprid, Acetamiprid, Malathion, Dichlorvos Deltamethrin

Whitefly Thiamethoxam, Methomyl, Imidacloprid, Acetamiprid, Dichlorvos

Redspider Amitraz, Dicofol, Abamectin, Diazinon, Profenofos

Pumpkin/Fruit fly Thiamethoxam, Methomyl, Imidacloprid, Acetamiprid, Dichlorvos, Dimethoate,

Malathion, Abamectin, Emamectin benzoate, Acephate
Thrips Abamectin, Imidacloprid, Acetamiprid, Malathion, Dichlorvos, Deltamethrin
Squash bug Imidacloprid, Acetamiprid, Malathion, Dichlorvos, Dimethoate

Cutworms Chlorpyrifos, Lambda cyhalothrin, Carbaryl, Deltamethrin

Diseases
Damping off Captan, Copper oxychloride, Mancozeb, Thiram, Metalaxyl
Downey mildew Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride, Metalaxyl, Chlorothalonil, Cymoxanil
Angular leafspot Copper oxychloride, Copper hydroxide, Acibenzolar-S-Methyl
Anthracnose Azoxystrobin, Trifloxystrobin, Difenoconazole, Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride,
Tebuconazole, Chlorothalonil
Powdery mildew Triadimenol, Tebuconazole, Sulphur, Benomyl, Difenoconazole, Chlorothalonil
Alternaria leafspot Azoxystrobin, Trifloxystrobin, Difenoconazole, Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride,
Tebuconazole, Chlorothalonil
Phytophtora crown Metalaxyl, Mancozeb, Chlorothalonil, Copper oxychloride, Mandipropamid, Cymoxanil
and fruit rot
Bacterial complex Acibenzolar-S-Methyl

**Always read the labels on chemicals for rates and post-harvest intervals
**Chemicals listed in active ingredients, trade names may differ
**Chemical colour codes do not illustrate the effectiveness in pest control, but the toxicity to the operator

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 WATERMELON DETAILED PROGRAM
NAME LOCATION PROVINCE
PLANTING DATE CROP VARIETY
AREA (m²) 10000 PLANT POPN 10000 SOIL TYPE
pH - SEASON YIELD (kg) 140000

SPACING → INTERROW (m) 2 INROW (m) 0.5

Program remarks
Fertilizers: All fertilizers should be applied early morning through fertigation/nutrigation (Put in place a fertigation tank or a venturi system) or cup application
Foliar fertilizers: These should be applied early morning to increase absorption efficiency, adding wetter will also increase efficiency
Irrigation: Water requirement differ with soil type, growth stage and season. Always measure rate of discharge of your system to come up with the irrigation time
Harvesting: When harvesting commences, withdraw all chemicals with longer withdrawal period to avoid interference with harvesting
Tank mixing: Consider compatibility and solubility when mixing chemicals and fertilizers in the same tank (Refer to compatibility charts)

Growth
Weeks stage Fertilizers Foliar/drench fertilizer Insecticides Fungicides Other key products
Product Rate Product Rate Product Rate Product Rate Product Rate
Planting
Metolachlor
Manure (kg) 15000 (ml) 2000
Gypsum (kg) 100
Lime (kg) 0

Vegetable blend (kg) 400

Soil test: Always start with a soil test to measure the pH of the soil and its nutritional value, lime requirement should be based on pH results
Bed preparation: Prepare the fertility trenches that will provide a rich foundation for your crop
Irrigation: Irrigate to field capacity before transplanting, then maintain 0.24ltr/day (winter), 0.4ltr/day (summer)
Herbicide: Apply Metolachlor at 2ltr/ha or 160ml/16ltr soon after planting on a moist ground to suppress weed germination

0 Emergence
Lambda (ml) 500 Copper (g) 2000

Irrigation: Maintain 0.42ltr/day (winter), 0.7ltr/day (summer)

1 Vegetative
Hoover (ml) 500 Mancozeb (g) 2000

Irrigation: Maintain 0.48ltr/day (winter), 0.8ltr/day (summer)

2 Vegetative
AN (kg) 50 Macromix (ml) 1000 Acephate (g) 500 Bravo (ml) 2000

Irrigation: Maintain 0.48ltr/day (winter), 0.8ltr/day (summer)

Top dressing: Apply AN at 5g/plant, make sure you place it 5cm away from the plant to avoid burning the plant. Moisture is required to dissolve the fertilizer

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 3 Vegetative
Lufenuron (ml) 500 Acomil (g) 2000

Irrigation: Maintain 0.6ltr/day (winter), 1ltr/day (summer)

Weeding: Keep the field weed free as they compete for nutrients, water, sunlight and also harbor insects and diseases

4 Flowering
Potassium nitrate (kg) 50 Zalexin (ml) 2000 Malathion (ml) 500 Aegis (ml) 500

Irrigation: Maintain 0.69ltr/day (winter), 1.15ltr/day (summer)

Top dressing: Apply Potassium nitrate at 5g/plant, make sure you place it in a hole 5cm away from the plant and cover the hole with soil

5 Flowering
Fruiting Forceful (ml) 250 Range (g) 2000 Panther (ml) 500

Irrigation: Maintain 0.75ltr/day (winter), 1.25ltr/day (summer)

Weeding: Keep the field weed free as they compete for nutrients, water, sunlight and also harbor insects and diseases
Herbicide: Apply Panther at 500ml/ha or 40ml/16ltr to control germinated grass weeds
Traps: Insert fruit fly traps to reduce damage on fruits and flowers

6 Flowering
Fruiting Potassium nitrate (kg) 50 Macromix (ml) 1000 Hoover (ml) 500 Copper (g) 2000

Irrigation: Maintain 0.84ltr/day (winter), 1.4ltr/day (summer)

Top dressing: Apply Potassium nitrate at 5g/plant, make sure you place it in a hole 5cm away from the plant and cover the hole with soil

7 Flowering
Fruiting Acephate (g) 500 Mancozeb (g) 2000 Traps 20

Irrigation: Maintain 0.96ltr/day (winter), 1.6ltr/day (summer)

Weeding: Keep the field weed free as they compete for nutrients, water, sunlight and also harbor insects and diseases
Traps: Insert fruit fly traps to reduce damage on fruits and flowers

8 Fruiting
Wuxal Calcibor
Calcium nitrate (kg) 20 (ml) 1000 Lufenuron (ml) 500 Bravo (ml) 2000

Irrigation: Maintain 0.96tr/day (winter), 1.6ltr/day (summer)

Top dressing: Apply Calcium nitrate at 2g/plant, 5cm away from the plant

9 Fruiting
Malathion (ml) 500 Acomil (g) 2000

Irrigation: Maintain 1ltr/day (winter), 2ltr/day (summer)

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Weeding: Keep the field weed free as they compete for nutrients, water, sunlight and also harbor insects and diseases

10 Fruiting
Forceful (ml) 250 Aegis (ml) 500

Irrigation: Maintain 1tr/day (winter), 2ltr/day (summer)

11 Fruiting
Hoover (ml) 500 Range (g) 2000

Irrigation: Maintain 1tr/day (winter), 2ltr/day (summer)

Weeding: Keep the field weed free as they compete for nutrients, water, sunlight and also harbor insects and diseases

12 Ripening

Irrigation: Maintain 1tr/day (winter), 2ltr/day (summer)

13 Ripening

Irrigation: Maintain 1tr/day (winter), 2ltr/day (summer)

14 Ripening

End of program: At this stage yield target would have been achieved

Bill of Quantities
Product Prices ($) Qnty rqrd Quantity Unit Description
Fahari seed 10 10 1k An early maturity 75-90days, Jubilee type that produce large fruits with sweet tasting red flesh

Product Prices ($) Qnty rqrd Quantity Unit N P K Ca Mg Solubility (kg/100l) Not compatible with
Fertilizers
Manure 15000 15000 kg - - - - - - -
Gypsum 100 100 kg - - - 19 - - -
Vegetable blend 400 400 kg 24 112 92 - - - -
Potassium nitrate 100 100 kg 13 - 46 - - 8 -
Ammonium nitrate 50 50 kg 17.25 - 60 -
Calcium nitrate 20 20 kg 3 - - 3 - 60 -
Lime 0 0 kg - - - - -
Nutrients supplied/plant (g) 6 11 14 2.2

Total nutrients (kg) 57.25 112 138 22 0

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Foliar fertilizers Prices Qnty rqrd Quantity Unit Rate/16ltr Description
Organic fertilizer rich in Salicylic acid to improve tolerance against biotic and abiotic
Zalexin 2 2 ltr 160ml stress
Wuxal macromix 2 2 ltr 80ml Organic fertilizer rich in Calcium and Boron to improve fruiting and quality

Wuxal calcibor 1 1 ltr 80ml Organic fertilizer rich in micro and macro nutrients to stimulate growth

Insecticides Prices Qnty rqrd Quantity Unit Rate/16ltr PHI (days) Major Insects controlled Active ingredients
Lambda 0.5 0.5 ltr 10ml 5 Cutworms and soil insects Lambda cyhalothrin
Hoover 1.5 1.5 ltr 20ml 14 Redspider, Thrips, Fruitfly, Aphids Acetamiprid/Emamectin
Acephate 1 1 ltr 16ml 10 Whitefly, Thrips, Aphids, Fruitfly Acephate
Forceful 0.5 0.5 ltr 16ml 3 Redspider, Fruitfly Chlorfenapyr
Malathion 1 1 ltr 20ml 7 Redspider, Aphids, Fruitfly Malathion

Lufenuron 1 1 ltr 10ml 7 Fruitfly, Whitefly Lufenuron

Fungicides Prices Qnty rqrd Quantity Unit Rate/16ltr PHI (days) Major Diseases controlled Active ingredients
Copper 4 4 kg 80g 3 Contact for blights and mildews Copper oxychloride
Mancozeb 4 4 kg 50g 3 Contact for blights and mildews Mancozeb
Translaminar for blights and
Bravo 4 4 ltr 32ml 3 mildews Chlorothalonil
Range 4 4 kg 32g 7 Systemic for blights and mildews Cymoxanil/Propineb
Acomil 4 4 kg 50g 10 Systemic for blights and mildews Metalaxyl/Mancozeb

Aegis 1 1 ltr 16ml 10 Systemic for blights and mildews Azoxystrobin/Difenoconazole

Herbicide Prices Qnty rqrd Quantity Unit Rate/16ltr PHI (days) Major Weeds controlled Active ingredients
Metolachlor 2 2 ltr 160ml 36 Pre-emergence for annual weeds Metolachlor

Panther 1 1 ltr 40ml 40 Post-emergence for grasses Clethodim

Accessories Quantity Unit Description

Fruitfly traps 40 40 No Fruitfly traps should be placed at flowering and tender fruit to lure all adults and reduce destruction

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