New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts
Effect of polyethylene mulch colour on aphid populations,
soil temperature, fruit quality, and yield of watermelon
under tropical conditions
J. FARIAS-LARIOS
Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas
y Agropecuarias
Universidad de Colima
Apartado Postal 36
28100 Tecomán, Colima
Mexico
M. OROZCO-SANTOS
INIFAP--C. E. Tecoman
Apartado Postal 88
28100 Tecomán, Colima
Mexico
Abstract Field studies were conducted in southwestern Mexico
to determine the effect of three plastic mulch colours (black, white, and
clear) on aphid populations, soil temperature, and on fruit yield of watermelon
(Citrullus vulgaris Schard.). Aphids were counted on alternate days in
traps placed on the mulched beds. Aphids were least numerous on the clear mulch
and most numerous on the bare soil. Maximum soil temperatures under clear
polyethylene reached 38.5deg.C and were 1.0, 4.5, and 4.2deg.C greater than
those under white, black, and 10 cm deep unmulched soil, respectively. Total
soluble solids of fruits were not modified by different coloured polyethylene.
Fruit length was increased with clear and white plastic. Plants grown on clear
plastic mulch produced higher marketable yields than those grown on bare soil.
Other colours (black and white mulches) were intermediate in their effects on
aphid populations, soil temperature, fruit weight, and yield response.
Marketable yields of 48.3, 43.2, 38.3, and 22.8 t/ha were achieved under clear,
black, white, and unmulched soil treatments respectively. Clear plastic mulch
increased fruit weight by 2.94 kg and watermelon yield by 25.5 t/ha in
comparison with unmulched soil. All plastic mulches increased fruit weight and
total yield as compared with production on bare soil. By delaying aphid
population increases, use of mulches may reduce the need for insecticides
targeted for aphid control. In conclusion, coloured polyethylene mulch has an
important effect, and clear plastic could be a practical management tool for
the increase of watermelon production and enhancement of fruit quality under
tropical conditions.
Keywords aphid populations; watermelon; Citrullus
vulgaris; fruit quality; plastic film; tropical conditions
New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 1997, Vol. 25:
369-374
0114-0671/97/2504-0369 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
1997
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (486K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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