New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts
Effect of transparent mulch on insect populations,
virus diseases, soil temperature, and yield of cantaloup
in a tropical region
MARIO OROZCO-SANTOS
OCTAVIO PEREZ-ZAMORA
OSCAR LOPEZ-ARRIAGA
Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales
y Agropecuarias
CIPAC, Campo Experimental Tecomán
Apartado postal 88
28100 Tecomán, Colima, México
Abstract Transparent polyethylene mulch was tested for its
efficacy in reducing insect populations, virus diseases, and increasing soil
temperature and yield of cantaloup (
Cucumis melo L.) in a tropical
region. Transparent mulch reduced whitefly populations, aphids caught in yellow
traps, and virus incidence, with respect to bare soil (control). Also, soil
temperatures in the morning, midday, and afternoon were significantly increased
in the transparent mulch. Cantaloup fruit yield was positively influenced by
the mulched plot. The export- and national-quality fruit yield was 11-fold and
two-fold higher, respectively in the mulched plot in relation to control. Total
yield in the transparent mulch was 31.2 t/ha, whereas that in bare soil was 6.9
t.
Keywords cantaloup; Cucumis melo; cucurbit viruses;
aphids; whitefly; transparent mulch; soil temperature; yield
New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 1995, Vol. 23:
199-204
0114-0671/95/2302--0199 $2.50/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
1995
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (407K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
This year's abstracts |
Journal home page |
All abstracts |
Publishing home page
