AgriAuditor

Commercial crop requirements

Growing Watermelon: climate, soil and water requirements

Watermelon has an optimum temperature range of 2035°C within an absolute 1540°C envelope.

Its profile calls for 500 mm of seasonal water and an optimum soil pH of 67.

How to read the figures

The crop profile is marked measured in confidence_tier. Regional figures are representative reference values, not coordinate-level measurements; every table and regional note names the field behind its figures.

Climate envelope

Use the optimum band for screening normal crop development and the absolute range as an outer tolerance boundary. Accumulated heat still depends on the local planting window and daily temperatures.

Watermelon climate requirements
RequirementProfile valueDatabase field
Optimum temperature20–35°Ctemp_opt_low_c, temp_opt_high_c
Absolute temperature range15–40°Ctemp_min_c, temp_max_c
Heat to maturity1,820 growing degree days above a 7°C basegdd_requirement, base_temp
PhotoperiodDay-neutralphotoperiod_type
VernalisationNot requiredvernalization_required

Soil and pH

Watermelon soil requirements
RequirementProfile valueDatabase field
Optimum pH6–7ph_opt_min, ph_opt_max
Tolerated pH range5.5–7.5ideal_ph_min, ideal_ph_max
Waterlogging toleranceIntolerantwaterlogging_tolerance_category

An intolerant rating means drainage is a screening constraint. Check infiltration, perched-water risk, field outlets and the duration of saturation before committing land.

Water

Watermelon water requirements
RequirementProfile valueDatabase field
Seasonal water requirement500 mmwater_need_mm
Optimum rainfall band500–700 mmrain_opt_min_mm, rain_opt_max_mm
Absolute rainfall range400–1,800 mmrain_abs_min_mm, rain_abs_max_mm

Irrigation becomes necessary when effective in-season rainfall is below the 500 mm seasonal requirement. Convert that gap into a field schedule only after accounting for soil water storage, application efficiency and local rainfall timing.

Nitrogen demand

The profile assigns Watermelon nitrogen-demand category 3, which translates to moderate demand. The figure traces to nitrogen_demand; it is a category, not a fertiliser rate.

Set the field program from soil and tissue evidence, expected removals, prior-crop effects and local nutrient rules.

Crop-level reference profile

Watermelon crop-level reference figures
RequirementProfile valueDatabase field
Average yield36.48 t/ha crop-level reference average; not a regional measurement or forecastavg_yield_per_ha_tons
Growing periodNot supplied; no day figure is statedgrowing_period_days

Where it grows well

These examples pass a stated temperature or rainfall comparison using representative regional values. They do not establish parcel viability.

Kansas

Representative warm-season temperature is 23.9°C, inside the 20–35°C optimum. Annual rainfall is 642 mm, inside the 500–700 mm optimum rainfall band.

Field trace: warm_season_temp_c, annual_rain_mm

Nebraska

Representative warm-season temperature is 20.9°C, inside the 20–35°C optimum. Annual rainfall is 501 mm, inside the 500–700 mm optimum rainfall band.

Field trace: warm_season_temp_c, annual_rain_mm

Texas

Representative warm-season temperature is 28°C, inside the 20–35°C optimum. Annual rainfall is 600 mm, inside the 500–700 mm optimum rainfall band.

Field trace: warm_season_temp_c, annual_rain_mm

Research basis

These papers support the qualitative interpretation of the crop profile. No paper-derived figure is used on this page; the named crop and region fields remain the only sources of displayed agronomic numbers.

What we cannot tell you

This profile cannot set planting depth, row spacing, seeding rate, cultivar choice, fertiliser rate, harvest timing, irrigation schedule or drainage design. Those decisions depend on cultivar, local practice and field conditions.

The yield figure is not a field forecast, and this page does not estimate price, cost or profitability. Use a coordinate-level audit, local field evidence and commercial terms before a land or lending decision.

Crop profile source

source_citation: Wikidata & Literature (Al-Khalifah, 1995).