Effect of synthetic mulches on melon (Cucumis melo L.) yielding

A field experiment was carried out in 2006-2008. The study examined the effect of soil mulching with synthetic materials (black polyethylene film, black polypropylene nonwoven 50 g m^-2, and black polypropylene fabric 94 g m^-2) on the fruit yield and quality of two melon cultivars (‘Seledyn’ and ‘Yupi’) grown in the field under the climatic conditions of central-eastern Poland. Specimens grown without mulching served as the control. The climatic conditions during the study years had a significant influence on the level of total, marketable and early yield of melon. The highest melon yield was obtained in 2007, which was characterised by the most favourable weather conditions for melon cultivation. The comparison of the cultivars showed that ‘Seledyn’ was better adapted to the climatic conditions of Poland. From cultivation, this cultivar achieved significantly higher early and total fruit yield compared with ‘Yupi’. ‘Seledyn’ was also characterised by a higher share of early yield of the total yield, a higher number of fruit in the early yield and a higher mean fruit weight. In turn, ‘Yupi’ produced a significantly higher share of marketable yield of the total yield and a higher number of marketable fruit.