Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
The Vineline
Publisher
National Watermelon Association
Publication Date
4-1-2025
First Page
1
Last Page
2
Abstract
The western U.S. has recently experienced some of the driest conditions on record, and Utah has been in a multi-year drought (2019-2023) that affected the agricultural sector, including vegetable producers. While vegetables are not a primary agricultural crop in Utah, they are still an important part of the horticultural economy with 763 farms growing 6,138 acres. As the fourth largest acreage vegetable crop in Utah (almost 10% of the acreage) watermelon and related crops in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae (nearly 36% of total vegetable acreage) are important to vegetable growers. Watermelon is a water-intensive crop and requires an adequate supply of water for good yield and fruit quality and is very sensitive to water stress. An additional challenge is that watermelons need access to adequate nutrients for proper growth and high yields, which has become more difficult with the recent rise in fertilizer prices.
Recommended Citation
Christensen, Evan; de Oliveira, Milena Maria Tomaz; Nepal, Prakriti; and Sun, Youping, "Exploring Biostimulant Efficacy Under Limited Fertilizer and Water in Utah's Watermelon Production" (2025). Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications. Paper 1045.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/psc_facpub/1045