ABSTRACT
Melons belong to the Cucurbitaceae family which contains many members. This family includes 90 genera and approximately 700 species. Included in the family are watermelons, muskmelons, honey dews, cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash. Yields vary from country to country and within a single country. Yield is highly dependent on numerous factors including climate, soil, moisture, nutrition, pest control, variety and many more. A muskmelon crop removes considerable quantities of N, K and Ca from the soil. Manure is a valuable addition to the soil if it is available at reasonable cost. The manure should be free from organisms that cause disease in melons. Muskmelons are relatively important in the USA, ranking twelfth in hectarage and ninth in value in 1981 among the 22 principal vegetable crops. Melons are grown in both tropical and temperate regions of the world.
