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How to prevent and treat melon pests and diseases
There are numerous diseases that can affect melon cultivation, including wilt disease, bacterial blight, and anthracnose. Based on years of practical farming experience, the author believes that farmers should focus on understanding the causes of these diseases and implement comprehensive management strategies to effectively control them and minimize their occurrence.
First, crop rotation is an essential practice for controlling soil-borne diseases. Farmers growing vegetables on a large scale should divide their fields into 3–5 sections and rotate crops accordingly. For smaller plots, it’s advisable to split the field into two areas and alternate melon planting every other year. During rotation, it’s best to plant rice or water crops for one season, or grow onions and garlic—plants known to release bactericidal substances. Avoid planting crops closely related to melons. When transplanting seedlings, use nursery plots that have not been used for melons in recent years, and use loam that is free from melon residues for potting. It’s also important to clean up the field regularly and burn diseased plant debris. If using glutinous rice straw, it’s recommended to compost it at high temperatures to kill pathogens. Aphids are vectors of viral diseases, so avoid planting crops prone to aphids near melon fields.
Second, improving fertilizer practices and emphasizing organic fertilizers can significantly enhance plant health. Using a combination of bio-fertilizers and conventional fertilizers after leaching not only improves nutrient efficiency but also promotes beneficial microorganisms in the soil. This increases the presence of helpful microbes in the rhizosphere, which helps suppress pathogen activity. Through long-term demonstrations, products like Guomanduo Bio-organic Fertilizer and Kokaxi Bio-organic Fertilizer, when used with farmyard manure as base fertilizer and combined with urine-based liquid fertilizers, have shown excellent results in reducing diseases such as seedling and adult wilt (with chemical support as needed).
In addition to eco-friendly fertilizers, high-quality compound fertilizers provide essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are crucial for wax gourds. Combining the slow-release benefits of organic fertilizers with the quick action of chemical fertilizers ensures balanced nutrition. The critical period for winter melons is during the seedling stage, so the base fertilizer must contain sufficient phosphorus and potassium. Products like Yangfeng compound fertilizer and Japanese resident compound fertilizer have proven effective over many years in boosting yields. These commercial fertilizers offer both rapid and long-lasting effects, with high nutrient utilization rates.
Many early seedlings may die in small numbers, but once the vines spread out, the number of dead plants can suddenly increase, sometimes exceeding 50%. This is often due to improper nitrogen application under high temperature and rainy conditions. Experience shows that it's best not to apply fertilizer before heavy rain or immediately after. Applying concentrated nitrogen fertilizer can lead to diseases like blight. For acidic soils, applying lime can help neutralize the soil and improve plant resistance.
Wax gourds require a lot of nutrients, especially potassium. After flowering and fruiting, applying foliar sprays of high-potassium fertilizers like propordan 2–3 times, along with quality compound fertilizers such as Yangfeng or residential formulas, can effectively supplement root absorption and supply the necessary trace elements for healthy fruit development.
Third, proper drainage and the use of disease-resistant varieties are key to successful melon cultivation. Wax gourds grow vigorously, with large leaves and high yields, requiring significant amounts of nutrients and moisture. However, they are not tolerant of waterlogging, and oversaturated roots during the rainy season can lead to various diseases. Ensuring good drainage by building raised beds is fundamental to achieving high-quality and high-yield crops. Consistent watering during the fruiting stage is also important for normal growth. Irregular watering can result in misshapen fruits, poor quality, or even halted development.