Effects of different mulch materials on weed control of watermelon production

This study was carried out in Iğdır University Şehit Bülent Yurtseven Campus in 2019 to investigate the effects of different mulch materials on weed control and watermelon yield. Crimson Sweet watermelon seeds cultivar were used in the research. Oat straw, peat, sawdust, grass fresh wastes (Festuca arundinacea 50%, Lolium perenne 35%, Poa pratensis 15% mixture), rotten grass wastes, flax and felt were used as mulching materials. The research was established according to the completely randomized blocks design with 9 characters and 4 replicates. To determine the effect of applications on watermelon yield and some yield components; Yield per plant, fruit average weight, diameter (cm), length (cm), amount of water-soluble dry matter and effect on weed. As a result the top 5 weed species; lambsquarters (C. album), the red-rooted pigweed (A. retroflexus), the brown grass (H. europeum), oak goosefoot (C.botrys) mountain spinach (A. hortensis) were found in the experimental area. As a result of the analysis, the effects of mulching on weed dry weight, watermelon weight and fruit yield, yield per plant, average fruit weight, fruit diameter, fruit length and amount of water-soluble dry matter were found to be significant at the level 1%. It was observed that there was no significant difference between the other yield elements. As a result, while the highest yield and values were obtained in the weed-free plot, followed by hay and grass mulching plots. The lowest data were obtained on the weedy plots.