Automated Drip Irrigation with Mulches for the Tomato and Watermelon Production in North Dakota 2019-2020

Seeds Sangria Hybrid Watermelon and Hybrid Determinate Tomatoes Celebrity F1) grew in NDSU Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) Research Greenhouse Complex.

A subcompact raised bed mulch layer had been used to lay the mulches and drip tapes underneath simultaneously.

A complete randomized split plot design in 2020. This two-year field experiment was conducted in a research farm located in the southwest corner of NDSU campus. Two irrigation control boxes were used for the watermelon and tomato separately.

Four irrigation control settings were in each control box for the plots of clear plastic, black plastic, landscape fabric and no mulch. The Hunter node 100 was to control the start/end time and duration of irrigation. The plot soil moisture signal read by the Irrometer watermark electronic module (WEM-B) was to compared with the desired wet/dry level to determine if irrigation should be triggered. A flow meter with a datalogger was to record the irrigation flow data.

Five watermelon or six tomatoes were planted in each 25ft long plot with two parallel drip tapes installed.

Cameras were installed to monitor the growth and dataloggers in the white enclosures were to record the soil water potentials and temperatures in the plots.

Field visit and discussion.

Harvested watermelon and tomatoes to be tested in lab.