RESPONSE OF THE WATERFALL (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai) TO THE BIOFUMIGATION AND SOIL SOLARIZATION TECHNIQUES

The agricultural sector in Mexico increased significantly its surface cultivated due to the increment in the demand of food by the United States of North America; from there the importance to validate different techniques of crop management, looking for increase the vegetable production. The implementation of techniques such as biofumigation and soil solarization, constitute an alternative for vegetable production. This study was carried out in the experimental field of the Sonora University from July to December 2006. Soil solarization and biofumigation (incorporation of broccoli as organic matter) plus solarization effects on watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai) was evaluated. The combination of biofumigation and solarization increased the total yield and fruit weight of watermelon production. However, the total solid soluble and the fruit firmness were not affected by this combination, not influencing the fruit quality. About the soil pathogens, soil solarization as well as its interaction with biofumigation significantly reduced the Fusarium population. The weed presence was efficiently controlled by soil solarization.