Assessment of Water Stress Using Chlorophyll Readings and Leaf Water Content for Watermelon

The objective of this study was to determine plant water stress using Chlorophyll Readings (ChRs) and Leaf Water Content (LWC) measurements for watermelon in the Canakkale region of western Turkey. ChRs and LWC were measured before (BI) and after irrigation (AI). Six different irrigation treatments (S-100, (control), S-80, S-60 S-40, S-20 and S-0 (non-irrigated)) were applied with drip irrigation. Growth stages were divided into three categories: (1) flowering (F), (2) fruit growth (FG) and (3) ripening and harvest (RH). ChRs and LWC for both irrigation treatments and all growing stages were calculated by means of ANOVA using SPSS for Windows statistical software. It was seen that ChRs and LWC decreased from S-100 to S-0 during growth period. The coefficient of determination (R-2) and linear equation between ChRs and LWC for F, FG and RH stages were found to be 0.751, 0.805 and 0.878, respectively. Result of this study has shown that LWC and ChRs measurements can be used to determine water stress especially F period and the beginning FG periods.