Influence of plastic mulch between rows on the yield and quality of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)

The watermelon (Citrullus lanatus, THUNB. Matsum & Nakai.) is an important and valuable vegetable crop that has the 3rd largest cultivated area in open field in Hungary. Our experiment was set up in the largest and most intensive melon growing area in Hungary, at Dombegyháza in Békés County. Our investigations were carried out with the Grizzly watermelon variety and during the experiment 5 different colors of plastic mulch (purple, transparent, green, black, and butter coloured) were used, the control was uncovered. In the field we measured the average weight of the fruits, and during our laboratory measurements we examined the following nutritional characteristics: invert and reducing sugar content, refraction and acidity. Based on the results of the two years of our study we can state that the different color of the plastic mulch did not show significant differences in the examined quantitative and qualitative parameters. Using plastic mulch soil covering between the rows in the watermelon production is likely to continue due to the fact that the fruits remain clean, between the rows the soil remains weed-free, and the problem of labor shortage can be solved with this technology.