What to Do About Watermelon's Low Pollen? Causes and Control Measures Are All Here
During watermelon cultivation, it is common to encounter the phenomenon of low pollen in male watermelon flowers, which affects the pollination and fertilization rate and seriously affects yield and quality. So what causes low pollen in watermelon? How should it be controlled? Let's take a look together with the editor.
1. Fertilizer and water causes
Before flowering and fruit setting, on the basis of applying sufficient base fertilizer, fertilizer and water can be used sparingly, with control as the main approach. If watering is excessive or nitrogen fertilizer is applied one-sidedly, it can easily cause excessive vine growth, resulting in uneven nutrient distribution, poor flower bud differentiation, and the phenomenon of low pollen.
Control measures: Before flowering, control fertilizer and water to prevent excessive plant growth. If the base fertilizer is insufficient, it is recommended to apply biological fertilizer by drenching or root irrigation, or spray water-soluble fertilizer, to timely supplement during the flowering period's rainy days and promote flower organ development.
2. Light causes
In the early growth stage of watermelon, because of low temperatures, insulation is needed. If multi-layer plastic film mulching is used, it will greatly reduce light intensity. In a low-light environment, flower bud differentiation is poor, pollen development is poor, resulting in low pollen or no pollen. If continuous rainy days occur, the light will be even worse, and there will be no pollen when male flowers open.
Control measures: When the temperature is suitable, remove the covering as early as possible to increase light intensity, improve the quality of flower bud differentiation, and promote pollen quantity.
3. Root causes
In watermelon management, the root system is often damaged due to farming operations, such as soil compaction and drought or flood irrigation, causing waterlogging in the field, damaging the root system, resulting in insufficient nutrient supply, poor flower bud differentiation, poor pollen development, or low pollen.
Control measures: During cultivation, do not let the soil become too dry or cause waterlogging in the field that damages the roots. When planting, it is recommended to choose sandy soil, cultivate on raised ridges, apply more base fertilizer, improve the soil's aggregate structure, promote nutrient transformation and absorption, and increase the fruit setting rate.
4. Nutritional causes
Many medium and trace elements directly participate in plant flower bud differentiation and pollen development, such as boron, calcium and other nutrient elements. Once the plant lacks them, flower bud differentiation will be affected and pollen development will be poor.
Control measures: Various medium and trace elements can be supplemented before budding to prevent the phenomenon of low pollen quantity or no pollen caused by deficiency symptoms.
The above is an introduction to the causes of low pollen in watermelon and control measures. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.