GROWTH ANALYSIS OF WATERMELON (CITRULLUS-LANATUS) (THUMB) MATSUM ET NAKAI) IN RELATION TO DRIP AND FURROW IRRIGATION

Growth analysis of watermelon in relation to evaporation replenishment under drip (1 emitter/1 or 2 plants) and furrow (2.5 and 5 cm depth) methods of irrigation was carried out for 2 years at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore. The results indicated that increasing the evaporation replenishment from 25 to 100% increased the dry-matter production, LAI, LAD, CGR, NAR, RGR and harvest index resulting in highest fruit yield. Drip irrigation with 1 emitter/2 plants resulted in better growth and dry-matter leading to higher yield as compared to furrow irrigation with 2.5 or 5 cm depth, except in 1985 where the difference between drip with 1 emitter/2 plants and furrow irrigation with 2.5 cm was not significant. There were no significant differences between two drip or furrow irrigation treatments except in 1985 when furrow irrigation with 2.5 cm depth recorded significantly higher yield than with 5 cm depth.