Efficient Planting Techniques for Intercropping Cotton and Watermelon to Expand the Path to Wealth

On July 12, the cotton field efficient planting technology demonstration base located in Xian County, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province welcomed good news, and the “cotton watermelon intercropping efficient planting technology” – watermelon demonstration field successfully passed the field test.

On the same day, expert on-site testing results showed that using a 1:1 intercropping of cotton and watermelon can fully leverage the complementary advantages of the two crops. The demonstration field has good growth of cotton and watermelon, with a watermelon yield of 3920.2kg per mu, a central solid sugar content of 10.8%, and a side solid sugar content of 8.5%. The texture is crispy and the taste is good. Calculated at a market price of 1.1 yuan per kilogram, the output value of watermelon per mu alone can reach 4312.2 yuan.

It is understood that the cotton field high-efficiency planting technology demonstration base is funded by the Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry’s financial special fund, undertaken by the Grain and Oil Crop Research Institute of the Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry, and jointly constructed by the Guangshun Planting Professional Cooperative in Xian County. The base has demonstrated three high-efficiency cultivation techniques for cotton fields, including full mechanized and efficient cultivation techniques, one film double furrow and ridge cultivation techniques for rainwater and salt suppression, and machine harvesting and planting techniques for intercropping cotton with watermelon, chili peppers, and peanuts.

The demonstration and promotion of advanced planting techniques will be beneficial for the development of the cotton industry in our province. The demonstration of intercropping technology between cotton and watermelon has achieved outstanding results, promoting the planting enthusiasm of farmers and helping them to become rich and increase income, “said Li Miao, an expert at the Grain and Oil Crops Research Institute of the Provincial Academy of Agricultural Sciences.