Growing Patterns Affecting the Growth and Yield of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai) in a Model Community Greenhouse

Abstract

     The application of appropriate cultivation methods facilitated the growth and yield of watermelons cultivated under the conditions of a model community greenhouse on Sukorn Island, Palian district, Trang province, during the period from July to September 2022. The study was conducted to design and evaluate a greenhouse for community-based watermelon cultivation and to assess the impact of cultivation methods on the growth and yield of watermelons within the greenhouse environment. A completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 3 replications was employed: 1) grown as a climbing plant outdoor, 2) grown in the ground as a creeper in greenhouse, 3) grown vertical in the ground in greenhouse and 4) grown in vertical sacks in greenhouse. The greenhouse was constructed from locally sourced bamboo, measured 3 x 6 x 3 meters, providing an 18 m² planting area. Results demonstrated that the model greenhouse enabled farmers to produce watermelons with higher yield, better quality, and enhanced safety. Among the treatments, vertical cultivation in soil and grow bags within the greenhouse facilitated the planting of up to 64 watermelon plants, yielding fruit three times more than the outdoor creeping method. This difference was statistically significant (p≤0.01). The greenhouse-based vertical cultivation increased yield per unit area by 71 - 78%, attributed to higher planting density. However, watermelons cultivated in the model greenhouse tended to have smaller fruit sizes, though their quality improved. This aligns with current market preferences favoring smaller, high-quality watermelons. The findings suggest that model community greenhouses have the potential to expand production areas, provide year-round cultivation options for Sukorn Island communities, and offer fresh, locally-grown watermelons to tourists throughout the year.