Prevention and Control of Continuous Cropping Obstacle of Watermelon by Reductive Soil Disinfestation (RSD)

This study aimed to explore whether reductive soil disinfestation (RSD) is an effective method of controlling continuous cropping obstacle of watermelon. Samples of watermelon continuous cropping soils were treated by RSD in laboratory tests and pot experiments in August 2015 and from December 10, 2016 to April 10, 2017. The soil samples for the laboratory test were divided into 16 groups, and each group comprised three parallel samples of 100 g (dry soil weight). Except for the original and control (CK) samples, the 14 other groups of soil samples were treated with different combinations of 1% or 3% alfalfa powder, 1% or 3% ammonia (NH₃) water, and 1% or 3% acetic acid. The soil samples were placed inside size-five self-styled plastic bags and incubated in a constant-temperature biochemical incubator at 35°C for 14 days after blending, flooding, and sealing. Seven groups of soil samples were designed for the pot experiments based on the laboratory test results. Each group consisted of 30 parallel samples of 3 kg (dry soil weight). These samples were incubated outdoors for 4 months after mixing with alfalfa powder and/or NH₃ and/or acetic acid according to the experimental design, blending, flooding, and sealing. Watermelon seedlings were planted in the air-dried soil samples from May to July in 2017. The results showed that the pH of the soil samples treated by RSD were elevated except for those samples with acetic acid. In addition, the electrical conductivities of the soil samples treated by RSD were effectively adjusted. The presence of soil-borne pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum was significantly suppressed (p < 0.05) in soil samples treated by RSD, and the incidence and mortality rate of watermelons planted in these samples were remarkably lower than those planted in the CK and flooded CK soil samples. Therefore, continuous cropping obstacle of watermelon can be controlled by RSD.