Pollination methods for watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.)) fruit setting and yield
Data files
Jun 20, 2024 version files 20.39 KB
-
Data_-_Dumre_Research.xlsx
17.63 KB
-
README.md
2.76 KB
Abstract
Pollination is an essential ecosystem function to sustain food security. Human made agroecosystem led pollinators to decline which ultimately reduced fruit setting and yield of watermelon production. A field experiment was conducted at Manahari Rural Municipality from March 2023 to July 2023 to study the effect of pollination methods on fruit setting and yield of two watermelon varieties. The experiment was laid out in two factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) having two watermelon varieties (Saraswati and Vishala) and three pollination methods (bee pollination, hand pollination, open pollination, and control) which were replicated thrice. The data regarding foraging activity of domesticated bee pollinators (Apis cerana F. and Apis mellifera L.) from open field condition and yield attributing parameters from experimental plot were recorded. In open field condition, Apis mellifera L. recorded the highest abundance (5.12 bees/m2/5 min.), foraging speed on male (5.14 second/flower) and female flower (6.17 second/flower). Apis cerana F. recorded the highest foraging rate (9.31 flowers/bee/min.). The foraging activity was more active in the morning hours (8-10 a.m.) than at midday (12-2 p.m.) and evening hours (4-6 p.m.) for both the bee species. From the experimental plot, variety Saraswati recorded highest number of fruits per plant (2.52), fruit girth (14.45 cm), fruit weight (1.82 kg), seeds per fruit (122.53), and yield per plant (4.91 kg) while highest fruit length (18.58 cm) and 1000 seed weight (49.37 g). The highest fruit set (74.51%), number of fruits per plant (3.15), healthy fruit (84.83%), fruit girth (15.81 cm), fruit weight (2.21 kg), seeds per fruit (141.04), and yield per plant (6.98 kg) were recorded in bee pollinated plots. The result suggests that the use of A. mellifera bees in the pollination of watermelon is useful to increase fruit set, production, and productivity.
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.7h44j102q
Summary of Experiment dataset
This dataset consists of two sheets containing observations from experiments aimed at evaluating the foraging behavior and speed of the pollinator species, as well as the reproductive attributes (including fruit set and yield) of various plant varieties under different pollination conditions.
Description of File Structure and Contents
Sheet 1: Foraging Behavior Data
The first sheet captures data related to the foraging behavior of Apis mellifera and Apis cerena across different time periods within a day. The columns include:
- Species: The species of the pollinator observed (e.g., Apis mellifera).
- week: The week during which the observations were made.
- Days: The specific day of observation within the week.
- Abundance: The abundance of the pollinator observed during different time slots (8-10 am, 12-2 pm, 4-6 pm).
- Foraging speed Male flower (seconds/flower): The foraging speed observed on male flowers during different time slots (8-10 am, 12-2 pm, 4-6 pm).
- Foraging speed female flower (seconds/flower): The foraging speed observed on female flowers during different time slots (8-10 am, 12-2 pm, 4-6 pm).
- Foraging rate (flowers/bee/minute): The rate of foraging activity recorded during different time slots (8-10 am, 12-2 pm, 4-6 pm).
Sheet 2: Reproductive Attributes Data
The second sheet includes data related to the reproductive attributes of different plant varieties under various pollination conditions. The columns include:
- REPLICATION: Replication number of the experiment.
- VARIETY: The variety of the plant. (S = Saraswati variety, V = Vishala)
- POLLINATION: The type of pollination applied (e.g., controlled, open). C = control; B = bee; H = hand pollination; O = open pollination
- no. of female flowers: Number of female flowers observed.
- female flowers: Female flowers per plant.
- fruit set: Number of fruits set.
- fruit set%: Percentage of fruit set.
- flower drop: Number of flowers that dropped.
- flower pp: Flowers per plant.
- fruit pp: Fruits per plant.
- healthy fruits: Number of healthy fruits.
- hf %: Percentage of healthy fruits.
- df%: Percentage of distorted fruits.
- weight: Weight of the fruit (kg).
- length: Length of the fruit (cm).
- girth: Girth of the fruit (cm).
- ratio: Ratio of length to girth.
- seeds per fruit: Number of seeds per fruit.
- 100 seed weight: Weight of 100 seeds (g).
Other Sources
The data was derived from direct observations and measurements taken during the experimental period.