Performance of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.) Varieties under Mulched Field Conditions in Nuwakot, Nepal

Abstract

This study evaluated five watermelon varieties to identify high-yielding types with desirable fruit quality under the local agro-ecological conditions of Nuwakot District, Nepal. The experiment was conducted at Bidur Municipality-04, Nuwakot District, Bagmati Province, from February to June 2026 using a one-factor Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatments and four replications. The varieties Aahana, Saraswati, Rato Lali, Kritika, and Dany were evaluated in 7.2 m² plots. Data were recorded for vegetative traits, including vine length, stem girth, and number of branches per plant; yield traits, including fruit length, fruit perimeter, average fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, and total yield (t ha⁻¹); and fruit-quality traits, including total soluble solids (TSS, °Brix) and titratable acidity (TA). Significant varietal differences were observed for vine length at 12 and 24 days after transplanting (DAT), stem girth, number of branches per plant, number of fruits per plant, TA, fruit perimeter, average fruit weight, and total yield, whereas vine length at 36 DAT, TSS, and fruit length did not differ significantly. Aahana recorded the highest TSS (13.20 °Brix), TA (0.384%), and number of branches per plant (11.94). Rato Lali recorded the highest yield (40.31 t ha⁻¹), stem girth (0.567 cm), and number of fruits per plant (2.20), while Dany recorded the largest fruit perimeter (54.82 cm) and highest average fruit weight (2.93 kg). Under the conditions of this trial, Rato Lali was promising for yield, whereas Aahana showed favourable fruit-quality attributes.