Effect of plastic mulch on growth, yield and economics of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thumb.) Matsum and Nakai] under Nimar plains conditions of Madhya Pradesh

In order to define the influence of mulching on growth and yield of water melon, an experiment was laid out as on-farm trials entitled “Effect of plastic mulch on growth, yield and economics of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thumb.) Matsum et Nakai] under Nimar plains conditions of Madhya Pradesh” at farmer’s field in five locations at Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh during two consecutive spring growing season of 2011 and 2012. Water melon was grown on silver-on-black plastic mulch and without mulch field. The main vine length, number of branches, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight and yield per hectare were recorded. It was noticed that plastic mulch had significant response on vegetative growth, yield and net profit. Plants in plastic mulch treatment had higher yields ascribed due to higher length of vine, number of branches, number of fruits per plant and average fruit weight. The study revealed that silver-on-black plastic film could be conducive and beneficial in enhancing the yield which lead to 75.29% and 82.10% increase over farmers’ practice during 2011 and 2012, respectively with a mean value of 78.70% increase over farmers practice and net profit of water melon found suit able for an early spring sowing under the Nimar Zone conditions of Madhya Pradesh.