Abstract
Abstract. Horticultural crops have limited production in North Dakota due to a short growing season, low soil temperature, variable weather conditions, and lack of access to proper irrigation water. A precise application of irrigation water is needed to maximize water use efficiency and increase crop yield. A field study was conducted in 2022 near Oakes, North Dakota to study the effect of four irrigation treatments on the yield and quality of different commercial varieties of watermelon, muskmelon, and squash under clear plastic mulch. Two drip lines located under the mulch with the crop in the middle were used to apply the irrigation water. Throughout the growing season, four treatments were initiated automatically namely 10% MAD (management allowable depletion), 30% MAD, 60% MAD and time-based irrigation. A system consisting o f a remote-controlled irrigation controller, soil-click, solenoid valve, and flowmeter was designed and installed to control the irrigation system automatically and remotely. Soil moisture and temperature sensors were installed to control the irrigation and measure the soil moisture conditions. The effect of different irrigation treatments was analyzed based on the samples‘ average fruit weight, length, diameter, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and sugar content. The irrigation system irrigated frequently due to low rainfall and higher water infiltration through sandy soil. In the 2022 field experiment, the highest yield for watermelon was obtained from 30% MAD (47.29 Mg ha-1), whereas the highest yield for muskmelon was 34.21 Mg ha-1 with 60% MAD treatment. Squash yield was the highest in 30% MAD treatment for 50.83 Mg ha-1. The yield and quality parameters were statistically analyzed, and the results showed that watermelon and muskmelon fruit production was not significantly affected by different irrigation treatments, however, the variation in soil water content significantly affected the yield of squash. Similarly, the sugar content of muskmelon and the electrical conductivity (EC) of watermelon were significantly affected by the interaction of irrigation treatments and variety. This study indicates that the amount of irrigation water to be applied could be reduced without having an adverse effect on yield and the sensor-controlled drip-mulch system could be the future of any horticultural specialty crops as it can conserve water, improve soil temperature, control weeds, extend the growing season, and increase the competitiveness of specialty crops.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
watermelon had the highest yield under 30% MAD.
- Taxon
- watermelon
Citrullus lanatuse0 - Treatment
- 30% MADe0
- Outcome
- yielde0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 47.29 Mg ha-1e0
- Comparator
- 30% MADe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the highest yield for watermelon was obtained from 30% MAD (47.29 Mg ha-1)”
Claim · model-written summary
muskmelon had the highest yield under 60% MAD.
- Taxon
- muskmelon
.jpg?width=60)
Cucumis meloe0 - Treatment
- 60% MADe0
- Outcome
- yielde0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 34.21 Mg ha-1e0
- Comparator
- 60% MADe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“the highest yield for muskmelon was 34.21 Mg ha-1 with 60% MAD treatment”
Claim · model-written summary
Squash had the highest yield under 30% MAD.
Verbatim
e0“Squash yield was the highest in 30% MAD treatment for 50.83 Mg ha-1”
Claim · model-written summary
watermelon production did not differ significantly among irrigation treatments.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatuse0
- Treatment
- different irrigation treatmentse0
- Outcome
- fruit productione0
- Direction
- not significantly affectede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“watermelon and muskmelon fruit production was not significantly affected by different irrigation treatments”
Claim · model-written summary
muskmelon production did not differ significantly among irrigation treatments.
- Taxon
- muskmelonCucumis meloe0
- Treatment
- different irrigation treatmentse0
- Outcome
- fruit productione0
- Direction
- not significantly affectede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“watermelon and muskmelon fruit production was not significantly affected by different irrigation treatments”
Claim · model-written summary
Soil water variation significantly affected squash yield.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“the variation in soil water content significantly affected the yield of squash”
Claim · model-written summary
The treatment-by-variety interaction significantly affected muskmelon sugar content.
- Taxon
- muskmelonCucumis meloe0
- Treatment
- irrigation treatments and varietye0
- Outcome
- sugar contente0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the sugar content of muskmelon and the electrical conductivity (EC) of watermelon were significantly affected by the interaction of irrigation treatments and variety”
Claim · model-written summary
The treatment-by-variety interaction significantly affected watermelon electrical conductivity (EC).
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatuse0
- Treatment
- irrigation treatments and varietye0
- Outcome
- electrical conductivity (EC)e0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the sugar content of muskmelon and the electrical conductivity (EC) of watermelon were significantly affected by the interaction of irrigation treatments and variety”
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