The effect of various agrotechnical practices on the number and development of plant leaves in organic watermelon cultivation in rainfed fields.

Abstract

This article examines the effect of various agrotechnical measures (fallow land, sideral fallow, planting under plastic film, and application of vermicompost) on the number of leaves and photosynthetic activity of watermelon plants grown organically under rainfed (lalmikor) conditions and water scarcity. According to the research results, the highest indicators were recorded in the variant with the application of vermicompost after sideral fallow, where the number of leaves per 10 plants reached 225–260. Furthermore, under rainfed conditions, the retention of 25–40 well-developed leaves during the fruit-setting period were substantiated as a practical criterion indicating the sufficient formation of the photosynthetic apparatus.