Based on observations made in year 1, planting dates were altered to allow for peanut harvest and minimize over-competition from watermelon. In year 2, a chisel plow and middle buster were used to prepare the field in April 2012. Clear plastic was laid on the field the second week of May for one month to solarize the soil. A row-maker was then used to make four 1.5m long planting rows per replicate for a total of twelve rows. Drip tape was again installed down the center of each row during the row-making process. Due to low nutrient levels at the onset of year 2, rows were top dressed with 838 kg ha1 of chicken manure-based organic granular NPK fertilizer (4–2–3) in mid-June (preplanting).