Enhancing Watermelon Yield and Economic Returns through Integrated Crop Management in Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Watermelon, being a crucial fruit crop, plays a vital role in the well-being and livelihood security of farmers. In the Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh, where many farmers cultivate various watermelon varieties, limited awareness exists regarding research findings on integrated crop management for watermelon. To assess the yield potential and economic impact of integrated crop management, an evaluation was conducted in Thimmayapalem and Bodhanampadu villages. The adopted package of practices for integrated crop management included a seed rate of 5 kg/ha, spacing of 3m x 2m, application of 15 tons/ha of farmyard manure (FYM), and the use of Urea, single superphosphate, and murate of potash at rates of 100:100:62 kg/ha, respectively. Significant differences were observed between integrated crop management and traditional farmers' practices in terms of fruit yield and economic returns. The results demonstrated that integrated crop management outperformed farmers' practices, yielding 5.6 fruits per plant and a total yield of 55.3 t/ha, with a thrips incidence of 10.3%. In contrast, farmers' practices resulted in 4 fruits per plant, a yield of 46.67 t/ha, and a higher thrips incidence of 11.97%. Economic returns were also superior for integrated crop management, with a net income of Rs 245,667/- and a benefit-to-cost (B:C) ratio of 3.19, compared to Rs 176,467/- and a B:C ratio of 2.01 for farmers' practices. The integrated crop management approach exhibited an 18.5% increase in yield compared to farmers' practices. In conclusion, the study suggests that adopting integrated crop management practices for watermelon could significantly contribute to improving economic outcomes for farmers in the region.