Abstract
Purpose: An empirical study was conducted in Calabar, Nigeria, from August to November 2019 to determine how planting dates and varieties affect rainfed watermelon (Citrullus lanatus ((Thunb.) Mansf.) growth and yield. Calabar holds the potential to support watermelon cultivation, but detailed information on its agronomic requirements is lacking in this area.Research Method: The experimental conditions included three planting dates (7 August, 27 August, and 16 September 2019) and four watermelon varieties (Koloss, Sugar Baby, Kaolack, and Heracles). The treatment combinations were organised in split-plots and placed into a randomised complete block design, with three replications.Findings and Values: All the watermelons planted on August 27 performed better than those planted on August 7 and September 16. The main vine length, number of leaves, number of branches, leaf area index, relative growth rate, and net assimilation rate showed that watermelon planted on August 27 performed best. A significant increase (P < 0.05) in fruit yield, weight, girth, length, sugar content, and number of fruits was observed on August 27 planting date compared to August 7 and September 16 planting dates. The August 27 planting date yielded 77.29 and 129.39 more fruit than August 7 and September 16, respectively. Heracles and Koloss yielded more fruit per hectare than the others. Fruit yield was ranked as follows: Heracles > Koloss > Kaolack > Sugar Baby. Heracles and the planting date of August 27 had a significant effect on fruit production. The production cost and economic returns analysis showed that August 27 was the best time to plant Heracles watermelon in Calabar.
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
Watermelon planted on August 27 performed better than when planted on August 7 or September 16.
- Taxon
- watermelon
Citrullus lanatuse0 - Treatment
- planted on August 27e1
- Outcome
- performed bettere1
- Direction
- bettere1
- Comparator
- August 7 and September 16e1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“rainfed watermelon (Citrullus lanatus ((Thunb.) Mansf.) growth and yield”
e1“All the watermelons planted on August 27 performed better than those planted on August 7 and September 16”
Claim · model-written summary
Main vine length, number of leaves and number of branches were highest in watermelon planted on August 27.
- Taxon
- watermelon
Citrullus lanatuse0 - Treatment
- planted on August 27e2
- Outcome
- main vine length, number of leaves, number of branchese2
- Direction
- performed beste2
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“rainfed watermelon (Citrullus lanatus ((Thunb.) Mansf.) growth and yield”
e2“The main vine length, number of leaves, number of branches, leaf area index, relative growth rate, and net assimilation rate showed that watermelon planted on August 27 performed best”
Claim · model-written summary
Leaf area index, relative growth rate and net assimilation rate were highest in watermelon planted on August 27.
- Taxon
- watermelon
Citrullus lanatuse0 - Treatment
- planted on August 27e2
- Outcome
- leaf area index, relative growth rate, and net assimilation ratee2
- Direction
- performed beste2
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“rainfed watermelon (Citrullus lanatus ((Thunb.) Mansf.) growth and yield”
e2“The main vine length, number of leaves, number of branches, leaf area index, relative growth rate, and net assimilation rate showed that watermelon planted on August 27 performed best”
Claim · model-written summary
Fruit yield, weight and girth increased significantly with planting on August 27 compared with August 7 and September 16.
- Taxon
- watermelon
Citrullus lanatuse0 - Treatment
- August 27 planting datee3
- Outcome
- fruit yield, weight, girthe3
- Direction
- increasee3
- Qualifier
- P < 0.05e3
- Comparator
- August 7 and September 16 planting datese3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“rainfed watermelon (Citrullus lanatus ((Thunb.) Mansf.) growth and yield”
e3“A significant increase (P < 0.05) in fruit yield, weight, girth, length, sugar content, and number of fruits was observed on August 27 planting date compared to August 7 and September 16 planting dates”
Claim · model-written summary
Fruit length, sugar content and number of fruits increased significantly with planting on August 27 compared with August 7 and September 16.
- Taxon
- watermelon
Citrullus lanatuse0 - Treatment
- August 27 planting datee3
- Outcome
- length, sugar content, and number of fruitse3
- Direction
- increasee3
- Qualifier
- P < 0.05e3
- Comparator
- August 7 and September 16 planting datese3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“rainfed watermelon (Citrullus lanatus ((Thunb.) Mansf.) growth and yield”
e3“A significant increase (P < 0.05) in fruit yield, weight, girth, length, sugar content, and number of fruits was observed on August 27 planting date compared to August 7 and September 16 planting dates”
Claim · model-written summary
Planting on August 27 yielded 77.29 more fruit than planting on August 7.
- Taxon
- watermelon
Citrullus lanatuse0 - Treatment
- August 27 planting datee4
- Outcome
- more fruite4
- Direction
- moree4
- Value
- 77.29e4
- Comparator
- August 7e4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“rainfed watermelon (Citrullus lanatus ((Thunb.) Mansf.) growth and yield”
e4“The August 27 planting date yielded 77.29 and 129.39 more fruit than August 7 and September 16, respectively”
Claim · model-written summary
Planting on August 27 yielded 129.39 more fruit than planting on September 16.
- Taxon
- watermelon
Citrullus lanatuse0 - Treatment
- August 27 planting datee4
- Outcome
- more fruite4
- Direction
- moree4
- Value
- 129.39e4
- Comparator
- September 16e4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“rainfed watermelon (Citrullus lanatus ((Thunb.) Mansf.) growth and yield”
e4“The August 27 planting date yielded 77.29 and 129.39 more fruit than August 7 and September 16, respectively”
Claim · model-written summary
Heracles and Koloss yielded more fruit per hectare than the other varieties.
- Taxon
- watermelon
Citrullus lanatuse0 - Material
- Heracles and Kolosse5
- Outcome
- fruit per hectaree5
- Direction
- moree5
- Comparator
- the otherse5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“rainfed watermelon (Citrullus lanatus ((Thunb.) Mansf.) growth and yield”
e5“Heracles and Koloss yielded more fruit per hectare than the others”
Claim · model-written summary
Fruit yield ranked Heracles, then Koloss, Kaolack and Sugar Baby.
- Taxon
- watermelon
Citrullus lanatuse0 - Material
- Heraclese6
- Outcome
- Fruit yielde6
- Qualifier
- Heracles > Koloss > Kaolack > Sugar Babye6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“rainfed watermelon (Citrullus lanatus ((Thunb.) Mansf.) growth and yield”
e6“Fruit yield was ranked as follows: Heracles > Koloss > Kaolack > Sugar Baby”
Claim · model-written summary
Heracles and the planting date of August 27 had a significant effect on fruit production.
- Taxon
- watermelon
Citrullus lanatuse0 - Material
- Heraclese7
- Treatment
- planting date of August 27e7
- Outcome
- fruit productione7
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“rainfed watermelon (Citrullus lanatus ((Thunb.) Mansf.) growth and yield”
e7“Heracles and the planting date of August 27 had a significant effect on fruit production”
Claim · model-written summary
August 27 is the best time to plant Heracles watermelon in Calabar.
- Taxon
- watermelon
Citrullus lanatuse1 - Outcome
- the best time to plant Heracles watermelone1
- Setting
- Calabare1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e1“August 27 was the best time to plant Heracles watermelon in Calabar”
The same questions in other papers
sowing time · growth · Citrullus lanatus (watermelon)Results agree
1 paper in the same direction as this paper
- positive
sowing time · yield · Citrullus lanatus (watermelon)Results agree
3 papers in the same direction as this paper
- positive
- positive
- positive
Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.