EFFECT OF DIFFERENT MULCHING MATERIALS ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF WATERMELON (Citrulus lanatus) var. SUGAR BABY Mr. Dave Angelo Baro and Dr. Archie B. Lauderes*
College of Agriculture and Technology, Northwest Samar State University, Calbayog City, Samar, Philippines
daveangelobaro[at]gmail.com and archie.lauderes[at]nwssu.edu.ph
Abstract
The field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of different mulching materials on the growth and yield of the watermelon (citrullus lanatus) sugar baby variety. The general objectives of this study were to determine the effect of different mulching materials on the growth and yield of watermelon (Citrulus Lanatus) var. Sugar baby. Objectives: (1) to determine the growth and yield response of watermelon applied with different mulching materials- and (2) to determine the coast and return of growing watermelon under the different mulching material application. The experiment was laid out RCBD with three replications and four treatments, including the control. The treatment was organic mulch, such as rice straw for T1, T2 rice hull, and T3 sawdust. Among all the treatments, different mulching materials had the most significant effect on the growth and yield of the watermelon. In terms of growth parameters, the T1 rice straw had the most significant effect on all parameters such as the highest fruit yield, 27.52 tons/ha, followed by T2 rice hull, recorded at 22.28 tons/ha. T3 harvested 18.42 tons/ha, T0 was 16.55 tons/ha.
