Majiahu Watermelon

Majiahu Watermelon

Majiahu Watermelon is a product with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　Production Area

　　Majiahu Watermelon is produced in eight administrative villages across two townships in Litong District, Wuzhong City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. These include Majiahu Village, Lijiao Village, Hanjiao Village, Gaozha Village, and Zhouzha Village in Gaozha Town, as well as Maqiao Village, Youliangqiao Village, and Tianqiao Village in Jinji Town. The area is located in the southern part of Litong District, Wuzhong City. Litong District is situated in the central-northern part of Ningxia, with geographical coordinates between 106°05′–106°22′ east longitude and 37°–38°08′ north latitude. It is 59 kilometers from Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia. The terrain here is flat, with no high mountains, and an average elevation of 1,125 meters. The total production area is 1,330 hectares, with an annual output of 60,000 tons.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: The soil type in the Majiahu area of Wuzhong is mainly irrigated silt soil, with deep layers generally over 1 meter. The texture is mostly light loam and medium loam, with a high degree of soil maturation. The organic matter content is generally 1.3–1.5%, making the soil fertile with low salinization and good physicochemical properties, which are conducive to the growth and development of Majiahu Watermelon. The "two-film-one-shade" arched shed cultivation technique is used to increase ground temperature, aiding early ripening of the watermelons.

　　(2) Hydrology: The Yellow River water is the main irrigation source for farmland in Litong District. There are five major canals in the district—Qin Canal, Han Canal, Malian Canal, East Main Canal, and Minsheng Canal—as well as 30 supporting branch canals distributed throughout the area. Each year, 480 million cubic meters of water are drawn from the Yellow River, and there is 3.3668 million cubic meters of surface runoff annually. The water quality is good, with no artificial or industrial pollution, making it ideal for industrial, agricultural, and domestic use. The flat terrain of the Majiahu area in Wuzhong allows for convenient and abundant gravity-fed irrigation from the Yellow River, meeting the water needs of Majiahu Watermelons during the seedling, flowering, and fruit swelling stages, thereby ensuring fruit quality. The water quality meets the "Irrigation Water Quality Requirements" specified in the NY5110-2002 standard for the origin environment of pollution-free Majiahu Watermelons.

　　(3) Climate: The Majiahu area in Wuzhong has a temperate semi-arid climate, with an annual precipitation of 260.7 mm and an annual evaporation rate of 2,018 mm. The average temperature is 9.4°C, and the annual sunshine duration ranges from 2,884.7 to 3,130.2 hours, with a sunshine percentage of 63–69%. The average effective accumulated temperature is 3,285°C, and the diurnal temperature range is 13°C. The frost-free period lasts 171 days. The region experiences distinct seasons, abundant sunshine, strong evaporation, and scarce rainfall or snowfall, making it one of the areas with the highest solar radiation in China. It features late spring warming, short hot summers, early cool autumns, and long cold winters. These conditions are favorable for the growth, flowering, and fruiting of Majiahu Watermelons. Especially during the fruiting stage, daytime temperatures can reach 28–35°C, with a diurnal temperature difference of up to 13°C. The lower night temperatures aid in the transport of assimilates and reduce respiratory nutrient consumption, increasing sugar content and forming the unique flavor of Majiahu Watermelons. The long, harsh winters help eliminate various soil-borne pathogens and overwintering insect eggs, minimizing the need for chemical pesticides and ensuring the quality of the watermelons.

　　(4) Humanistic and Historical Background: Since the 1980s, with the development of facility agriculture—and especially in recent years following the implementation of the "Ningxia Advantageous and Characteristic Agricultural Products Regional Layout and Development Plan" and the rapid advancement of facility agriculture in Wuzhong—small arched shed watermelon production has become a key specialty industry within the vegetable sector of Wuzhong and a profitable venture for local farmers. Currently, technicians have introduced small arched shed production techniques based on traditional watermelon cultivation methods, adapted to the unique natural production conditions of Majiahu Watermelon. Using pollution-free production standards, techniques such as "two-film-one-spray" and seedling transplanting have been implemented. This has led to a production model of staggered planting and phased marketing. With its superior quality, the product has gained market recognition, establishing the "Majiahu Watermelon" brand. In 2004, it obtained pollution-free agricultural product certification.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Origin Selection and Special Provisions: The production environment for Majiahu Watermelon must comply with the NY5010–2001 standard. Plots should be flat, with convenient drainage and irrigation, deep soil layers, loose and fertile sandy loam with good permeability, and should not be continuously cropped with other melon species.

　　(2) Variety Selection and Specific Requirements: Disease-resistant, pest-resistant, easy-to-fruit, storage-resistant, and transport-friendly mid-to-early maturing varieties with good quality—such as Jincheng No. 1—are selected.

　　(3) Production Process Management: The production process follows the standard DB640300/T005–2005 for "Pollution-Free Vegetable Watermelon Production Techniques."

　　(4) Product Harvesting and Post-Harvest Handling: Watermelons are harvested and sold fresh when mature. Majiahu Watermelons typically mature around 35 days after pollination and can then be picked and marketed.

　　(5) Production Records: Throughout the entire production process of Majiahu Watermelon, field production records must be established. Producers are required to accurately and meticulously document the production process, especially details such as the types and amounts of pesticides and fertilizers used, application methods, and intervals between applications. These records must be carefully maintained for future reference.

　　Typical Quality Characteristics and Product Quality Safety Standards

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: The fruit is tall and round in shape, with a light green base color marked by dark green stripes. It has an attractive appearance, weighs over 3.5 kg per unit, and enjoys a high commercial rate. External indicators include shape, size, and color.

　　(2) Internal Quality Indicators: The flesh is bright red, crisp in texture, juicy, and refreshing, with a sugar content of around 11%.

　　(3) Safety Requirements: Majiahu Watermelon complies with the NY5109–2002 standard for "Pollution-Free Food Watermelons."

　　Packaging, Labeling, and Related Standards

　　The packaging, transportation, and storage of Majiahu Watermelon strictly follow the NY5109–2002 standard for "Pollution-Free Food Watermelons."

　　The packaging, transportation, and storage of Majiahu Watermelons strictly comply with the standards of the "Pollution-Free Food Watermelon" NY5109-2002.