About one month before planting the watermelons, the field should be prepared thoroughly by plowing and harrowing and removing the different plant debris. It should also be pulverized and leveled, furrows are made 2 meters apart.
Land preparation involves one or more tillage operations performed:
(1) To make the soil more suitable for seeding and seedling (or transplant) establishment,
(2) To enhance productivity by providing the best soil structure for subsequent root growth and development,
(3) To help control some disease problems.
Before planting, the ploughed field can be treated with herbicide to kill germinating weeds, particularly perennial grasses. After the weeds have died, the soil may be fertilized with organic material or inorganic preparations.
Adding OM improves soil structure, which, in turn:
Helps to reduce compaction and crusting.
Increases water infiltration and decreases both water and wind erosion.
Also of importance, OM serves as a storehouse of many plant nutrients.
Furthermore, OM improves the efficiency of applied fertilizers by increasing the soil’s ability to retain plant nutrients under leaching conditions.
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