Devastating impact of persistent soil humidity on melon and watermelon harvests in Guadalentín Valley

The persistent soil humidity in May caused significant damage to the melon and watermelon harvests in the Campo de Lorca, Guadalentín Valley (Murcia, Spain). 

Plácido Pérez-Chuecos, the president of Coag in Lorca, emphasized that melon production is the most severely impacted by the damp soil. He explained that while watermelon crops are enduring for now, the plants are ailing, and they are unable to treat them due to the daily rainfall. The rain washes away any applied remedies.

Summer crops require a drier climate and heat for optimal fruit development. However, this ongoing humidity is expected to ultimately ruin the harvest. In the face of this predicament, the melons are likely to set poorly and have a small size. The only hope for farmers is that the market price continues to rise due to the scarcity of summer fruits. 

Rainfed crops, on the other hand, have benefited from the May rains, which proved to be a "lifesaver" for almond and pistachio trees. These trees were on the brink of drying out, and the same applies to vineyards, according to farmers from the Doña Inés district. Although 70% of the almond production has been lost, they have managed to overcome a precarious situation where the trees were at risk.

source: laverdad.es