| Summary: | To investigate the effect of polyethylene mulch, and manure on yield and yield components of cantaloupe, a two-year study (2007-2008) was carried out at Ardestan Agricultural Research Station by using split plot randomized based on complete block design with four replications. Three polyethylene mulch levels including clear polyethylene mulch, black polyethylene mulch and control treatment were assigned as main plots and three manure application including 30 t ha-1 of cow manure, 8 t ha-1 of chicken manure, and control treatment, were assigned made up of subplots. The results showed highest levels of sales yield, in condition of lack of soil cover, clear polyethylene mulch, and black polyethylene mulch respectively with 35700, 45800 and 43500 kg ha-1 was obtained by using 30 t ha-1 of cow manure. Soluble solids in fruit, with consumption of 8 t ha-1 of chicken manure or 30 t ha-1 of cow manure increased compared to control treatments, respectively, 11.8 and 12.3 percent. Two clear and black polyethylene mulch treatments by using 30 t ha-1 of cow manure were the highest amounts of earliness index with 47.5 and 46.5 percent, respectively. The results showed that the use of manure with polyethylene mulch (clear or black), in addition to producing higher yield could play an important role in early ripening and thus higher income for farmers.
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