What herbicide works well and is safe for post-emergence weed control in watermelon seedlings

Watermelon is a common fruit, and anyone with growing experience knows that because watermelon fields are fairly fertile, weeds grow easily. So, what herbicide should be used for post-emergence weed control in watermelon seedlings?

1. What herbicide should be used for post-emergence weed control in watermelon seedlings?

After watermelon seedlings emerge, 48% trifluralin emulsifiable concentrate, 33% pendimethalin emulsifiable concentrate, 35% fluazifop-P-butyl emulsifiable concentrate, 20% quizalofop-p-ethyl emulsifiable concentrate, 12.5% haloxyfop-R-methyl emulsifiable concentrate or 10% quizalofop emulsifiable concentrate can be sprayed on the soil for weed control.

2. What are the field management techniques for watermelon?

1. Watering

During the entire growth process of watermelon, about five waterings are needed. The first is after sowing, the second is after the seedlings break through the soil, the third is when applying the seedling-strengthening fertilizer, that is, when the seedlings have grown to 40 to 50 cm long, and the fourth is at the flowering stage. This watering is very important because it affects the success rate of fruit setting, so the soil should be watered thoroughly. The last is when the watermelons have grown to the size of a palm; this watering must be sufficient to ensure that the moisture can supply the watermelons until they mature. At the same time, the last watering must not be too much, because watermelons need to accumulate sugar; if there is too much water, the mature watermelons will not be sweet.

2. Fertilizing

From planting to maturity, watermelon needs at least four fertilizer applications. On average, one mu needs two thousand jin of farmyard manure as base fertilizer. Next, if in rural areas, the topdressing can use livestock manure or human excrement and urine water; this kind of fertilizer is absorbed best by watermelon. But if it is greenhouse cultivation or soilless cultivation, appropriate amounts of chemical fertilizer are needed, for example, no more than ten jin of nitrogen fertilizer each time, no more than one hundred jin of potassium fertilizer, no more than fifty jin of phosphate fertilizer, and no more than forty-five jin of compound fertilizer. The nutrient solution for soilless cultivation also needs to be diluted or increased in concentration according to different growth stages.

3. Vine training

When watermelon seedlings have grown to about 60 cm, we need to move the seedlings in one direction, then pinch off the tip of the main vine and remove the weeds in the field. Generally, after about ten days, many side branches will grow. When the side branches have grown to a certain extent, pinch off their tips in the same way. Finally, when flowering, if a node of the vine has more than one small melon, then some need to be removed and only one kept. Next, if there are still flowers at the fruiting part, the flowers need to be removed to reduce unnecessary nutrient consumption. Only in this way can watermelon be high-yielding and grow quickly.

4. Pollination

Generally, watermelon does not need artificial pollination. For example, on sunny days there are many insects, so pollination can be carried out by insects, and the efficiency is also very high. But if the flowering period encounters the rainy season, insects rarely come out to move around, and if pollination is carried out, the flowers will wither, which will lead to what everyone calls the phenomenon of branches flowering but not setting fruit. Artificial pollination mainly involves collecting pollen, then spraying it or using a feather to apply it to the female flowers so that pollination is even.

5. Preventing fruit cracking

Watermelon fruit cracking is very common, and it often happens when the watermelons are almost mature, so it is very infuriating. Once the fruit cracks, it means it cannot be sold and no money can be made. So how should fruit cracking be prevented? First, when the watermelons have grown to the size of a palm, we need to place a layer of straw under the watermelons to keep the temperature from changing. Second, because the light intensity is relatively high, a layer of grass needs to be placed over the surface of the watermelons. Then, during field management, do not move the watermelons at will and do not touch the watermelons. Finally, the moisture in the field must be managed well; too much or too little water will cause fruit cracking.

From seedling transplanting to harvest, weeds pose a threat throughout the entire watermelon growing period. If they are not controlled in time, the yield and quality of watermelon will decline.