Growth and yield of muskmelon in response to plastic mulch and row covers

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of plastic mulch al one or in combination with row covers on plant biomass, growth analysis par ameters, and yield of muskmelon plants (Cucumis melo L.). The design was a randomized complete block with four replications. The treatments were: (1) no mulch, no row cover (control); (2) black plastic mulch (BPM); (3) BPM pl us row cover removed 10 days after seeding (das) (BPM+CE); (4) BPM plus row cover removed 20 das (BPM+CI); (5) BPM plus row cover removed 32 das (BPMCL). Plants grown using soil mulch plus row cover presented higher values o f plant biomass, specific leaf area (SLA), relative growth rate (RGR), and net assimilation rate (NAR) compared to control plants. Early and total yie ld were highest in plants grown under row covers. In non-covered plants, ea rly and total yield were both higher in BPM plants relative to the control. Heat accumulation by the crop measured as soil degree-days showed a higher correlation with early and total yield compared to heat accumulation measu red as air degree-days. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.