Evaluating the effect of honeybee pollination on production of watermelon (Citrullus lantatus), in Northern Ethiopia.

A field study was done in 2021 in three districts of West Gojjam Zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia to determine the effect of honeybee pollination on Citrullus lanatus utilizing three treatments (honeybee-pollination, open-pollination, and self-pollination). The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design using three replications. The pollination effect on watermelon fruit was studied utilizing physicochemical parameters, sensory attributes, and economic feasibility studies. Excel and SAS software (version 9.0) was employed to analyse the data. A total of five different types of major pollinators were observed visiting watermelon flowers. The major pollinators were honeybees, mason bees, butterflies, carpenter bees, and carder bees. Honeybee was responsible for about 84.1% of the watermelon yield increment. This study shows, the majority of the physicochemical attributes were non-significant (p > 0.05) between Bahir Dar and Amarit experimental sites, but both of them were greater than Denbun experimental site. Honeybee-pollinated plants significantly outperformed open-pollinated and self-pollinated plants by the most physicochemical parameters, whereas open-pollinated plants significantly exceeded self-pollinated plants in half of the physicochemical parameters. Besides, the panel of consumers favoured open-pollinated and honeybee-pollinated fruits over self-pollinated fruits. However, due to the highest acceptable value of the Marginal Rate of Return, open-pollination was the most economically likely pollination method. As a result, employing pollination as part of a crop extension package will be better to improve watermelon production through the most cost-effective open-pollination approach. Furthermore, it is better to establish a multidisciplinary consultation forum to highlight the importance of pollinators on watermelon output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]