23/05/2026
Crop Management Practices in Watermelon Production
Crop management practices are the daily activities carried out after planting to ensure healthy growth, high yield, and good fruit quality. These practices include fertilization, irrigation, w**d control, mulching, pruning, and pollination management.
Fertilization is very important because watermelon is a heavy feeder and requires a good supply of nutrients. Before planting, a soil test should be done to determine nutrient levels and soil pH. Well-decomposed manure is recommended and should be applied at about 20 tons per hectare and incorporated into the soil 1 to 2 weeks before planting. Chemical fertilizers are also used to supply essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
A general fertilizer recommendation is nitrogen at 90 to 170 kg per hectare, phosphorus at 15 to 180 kg per hectare, and potassium at 40 to 250 kg per hectare depending on soil conditions. About 30 percent of nitrogen and potassium is applied before planting, and the rest is applied in two or more top dressings during growth. During early growth, more nitrogen is needed to promote vegetative growth. After flowering begins, potassium is increased to improve fruit development and quality. For example, a basal fertilizer such as NPK 10:36:15 can be applied at about 15 grams per plant soon after transplanting, followed by top dressing with NK fertilizer at about 5 grams per plant every two weeks.
Irrigation is essential because watermelon has high water requirements, especially during fruit formation. The crop requires about 400 to 600 mm of water during the growing season. There are three main irrigation methods used in watermelon production, which are furrow irrigation, drip irrigation, and sprinkler irrigation. Drip irrigation is the most efficient because it saves water and delivers it directly to the roots.
