The experiment was done at the Clemson University Coastal Research and Education Center in Charleston, SC. The soil type was Yonges loamy fine sand with a pH of 6.3. The field was fallow in 2012 and cropped to rye in winter 2013 and buckwheat in summer 2013. Prior to bedding, the field was disked twice. On 30 Jul, raised beds were shaped 3 ft wide on 6-ft centers with 500 lb/A of 10N-10P-10K fertilizer banded within the row. Raised beds were sprayed with the herbicide Dual Magnum at 1.33 pt/A beforewhite polyethylene mulch was laid on 31 Jul. The herbicides Prowl at 2.1 pt/A and Strategy at 6 pt/A were applied on 2 Aug to row middles. Watermelon was transplanted into every other row on 20 Aug in plots arranged as a randomized complete block with four replications. Plots were single rows 50 ft long with plants spaced 3 ft apart within rows. Plots were separated within rows by 5 ft of nonsprayed, planted area. Insects were managed by applications of Coragen on 21 Aug, 5, 19 Sep, and 16 Oct and Brigade at 6.4 fl oz/A on 1 Oct. Quintec was applied at 6 fl oz/A every other week to prevent powdery mildew. Previcur Flex at 1.2 pt/A and Ranman at 2.75 fl oz/A were alternated weekly to prevent downy mildew. Liquid 8N-0P-8K fertilizer was applied to the field throughout the season through the drip irrigation system. Fungicides were applied six times between 3 Sep and 15 Oct. Beginning 11 Sep, plants were misted for 30 min every 4 hr from dusk until just after dawn with an overhead mini-wobbler mist systemto promote leaf wetness and spread of C. orbiculare. Anthracnose severity was rated on 16 and 30 Sep and 10 and 17 Oct. All fruit were counted and marketable fruit were weighed on 18 Oct. On 21 Oct, all marketable sized fruit with anthracnose symptoms were also weighed. Average max/min temperatures for Aug, Sep and Oct were 87.9/72.3, 84.5/66.9, and 76.9/57.8 °F, respectively. Rainfall for Aug, Sep, and Oct was 7.21, 3.22 and 1.88 in., respectively. Rainfall in Sep and Oct was 60% of the 50-yr normalamount.
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