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How to Interpose Watermelon in Plastic Film Cotton Field
It has been proven that intercropping cotton with watermelon can lead to high yields, increase production, and provide double harvests, thus boosting farmers' incomes and offering an effective path to wealth. Many farmers would be eager to try this method.
1. **Choosing Early-Maturing Watermelon Varieties**: After covering the cotton fields with plastic film, if you plan to grow watermelons in the same field to boost income, it is essential to select early-maturing, high-quality varieties that have a short symbiotic period with cotton. Examples include "Early Flower Melon," "Hainan Island Melon," "Eighteen Days Red," and "Secondary Education." These varieties allow for early harvesting, quick market entry, and faster vine development, ensuring better yield and profitability.
2. **Sowing Method and Timing**: The commonly used layout is a 4-foot wide band, with a 2.6-foot wide row and a 1.4-foot narrow row. Approximately 3,500 to 3,800 cotton plants are planted per mu, while 300 to 400 watermelon seedlings are placed on the same side as the cotton. One watermelon plant is typically placed between five or three cotton plants. Sowing time depends on local conditions, and seeds should be soaked before planting. After planting, the soil should be covered with plastic film. When the watermelon leaves reach 6-7, press soil around the roots and guide the vines toward the wider row.
3. **Management Techniques for Cotton and Watermelon Intercropping**: In general, watermelons require more water than cotton during the early stages. To avoid affecting the cotton, water should be applied immediately when the watermelon leaves start to show signs of wilting. To promote cotton growth during the seedling stage, apply a 0.2% urea solution or a 0.3% petroleum emulsifier solution once or twice, using about 20–25 kg of solution per acre. Once the watermelons set fruit, spray a 10% wood ash solution or a 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution 1–2 times, using 50–60 kg of solution per mu to supplement potassium and trace elements. You can also spray a 0.02% potassium permanganate or 0.2% ferrous sulfate solution 1–2 times, using approximately 50 kg of solution per acre. These sprays improve the quality and sugar content of the watermelon, enhance disease resistance, and promote earlier ripening.
Be sure to remove the seedlings in a timely manner to prevent burning. If locusts appear in the cotton field, use a 2% tobacco water solution to rub the seedlings or spray with 0.3% detergent powder at 30 kg per mu.
This method not only improves land utilization but also provides a sustainable way for farmers to increase their earnings while maintaining ecological balance. With proper management, intercropping can become a reliable and profitable farming strategy.