Setting a watermelon culture in the field with maximum economic efficiency supposes, besides the use of performing hybrids and the application of modern cultivation technologies that ensure optimal growth and development conditions for the plants. Among these conditions are maintaining optimal temperature, moisture, and nutrients at the level of the root system, of temperature and atmospheric moisture at the level of ground parts of the plant – all this through proper application of cultivation technology. Increasing yielding capacity in a watermelon plant can also be done through the stimulation of a larger number of flowers in parallel ensuring technological measures for the plants’ growth, development, and maturity. Research was carried out on competitive compared crops using tri-factorial experiments with the sub-divided plot system and with three replications. The experiment aimed at studying experimental crop hybrids from the point of view of the interaction between experimental factors (Factor A – cultivation technology, Factor B – hybrid, and Factor C – flower fecundation stimulation method) that were the main technical elements of a frame technology for the improvement of the cultivation of water melon in low tunnels of poly-ethylene sheet under present conditions. We studied 8 hybrids, of which 5 are extra early and early (Crisley F1, Red Comat F1, Ladz F1, Red Star F1, and Andry F1) and 3 are semi-late and late (Dunărea F1, Montana F1, and Caravan F1). The paper presents the effect of stimulating flower fecundation with Bostim and of applying modern cultivation technology in order to maximise the yielding potential of the studied hybrids. Modernising known cultivation technologies through drip-irrigation improvement and through proper fertilisation with modern fertilisers such as Kemira or Agriplant will have an impact on the yielding and quality potential of the studied hybrids. Thus, we can recommend specific methods to reach this goal and contribute to the deepening of theoretical and practical knowledge in the field. The increase in yield obtained through the application of the modernised cultivation technology is 17.3 t/ha (115.6%). Applying the preparation Bostim through spraying determined an increase of the number of flowers fecundated per plant and implicitly of the yield with both cultivation technologies. The increases in yield obtained with both classical improved and with modernised cultivation technologies are 13.3 and 20.2% respectively in the early and semi-early hybrids and 14.1% and 19.6% respectively in the case of late and semi-late hybrids. The paper present the effect of stimulating flower fecundation with the BOSTIM preparation and the effect of applying modern cultivation technology in order to get maximum yielding potential in the studied hybrids.

hybrid; technology; irrigation; fertilization; yielding potential; yield; preparation

Presentation: oral