**New Jersey Melons**

The New Jersey melons scenario was developed to represent an environment
in which melons are grown in an area where rainfall is high and soils
are more vulnerable to runoff than most places where melons are grown in
the state. The New Jersey melon crops, represented by this scenario,
include cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon. Based on the 2002 USDA
National Agricultural Statistics Summary, cantaloupe production
accounted for approximately 70% of the crop acreage for the above three
melon crops (USDA, 2005). In 2002, 294,045 acres of melons were grown
nationally. New Jersey ranked 24^th^ in the nation in production of
melons with 1,175 acres or 0.4% of the national acreage.

Melons belong to the cucurbit family of plants, known as Cucurbitaceae,
which includes cucumbers, gourds, squash, and pumpkins. There are
several different genus names used in the family. Cantaloupes (*Cucumis
melo* L. var. *antalupensis*) and honeydews (*Cucumis melo* L. var.
*inodorus*) are classified in the same genus. Mixed melons include
crenshaw, casaba, Santa Claus, Persian, Juan Canary, piel de sapo, and
other melon types are in this genus. Watermelons are in a different
genus *Citrullus lanatus* (Thunb.) Matsumi & Nakai.

The site for this scenario is in Gloucester County, which is located in
MLRA S149a, the Northern Coastal Plain. This area is a nearly level
coastal plain with old terraces that were dissected during periods of
low sea level. Soils in this area have dominantly Ultisols formed in
fluviomarine deposits (USDA, 2006). Nearly one-third of the land is
urban. Gloucester County itself drains through the Maurice River and
Great Harbor River to the Atlantic Ocean and is part of the Mid-Atlantic
Basin. Vegetables, corn, soybeans, small grains, and fruit are dominant
crops in this county.

  -------------- ------------------- ------------------- -----------------
  **Table 1.**                                           
  Candidate                                              
  weather                                                
  stations for                                           
  New Jersey                                             
  melon                                                  
  scenario. The                                          
  Wilmington, DE                                         
  weather                                                
  station was                                            
  selected to                                            
  represent the                                          
  scenario.                                              

  Station ID     Location            Annual Average      June Average
                                     Precipitation       Precipitation

  **W13781**     **Wilmington, DE**  **46.2 in**         **4.1 in**

  W14734         Newark, NJ          46.2 in             3.4 in

  W93730         Atlantic City, NJ   38.4 in             2.5 in
  -------------- ------------------- ------------------- -----------------

There are two candidate weather stations in New Jersey (Newark and
Atlantic City), and one in Delaware at Wilmington. Gloucester County is
located across the Delaware River from Wilmington, so Wilmington was
chosen to represent the weather for this scenario.

Soils in this area are predominantly Ultisols formed in fluviomarine
deposits (USDA, 2006). The soil selected for this scenario is the
Sassafras loamy sand, which is classified as fine-loamy, siliceous,
semi-active, mesic Typic Hapludult. The Sassafras soil is a benchmark
soil in Hydrologic Group B and covers 7.3% of the land area of the
county. Although C soils, which are more prone to runoff, occur in
Gloucester County, melons are not tolerant of poorly drained soils. For
this reason, a spatially extensive Group B soil was chosen to represent
a vulnerable soil that is used for melon agriculture in this county.
Cucumbers, another cucurbit, are also known to be grown on the Sassafras
soil in this county (USDA, 2006).

+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| **Table 2**.    |          |                                         |
| PRZM 3.12.2     |          |                                         |
| Climate and     |          |                                         |
| Time Parameters |          |                                         |
| for Gloucester  |          |                                         |
| County, NJ      |          |                                         |
| Melon Scenario. |          |                                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Parameter       | Value    | Source/Comments                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Starting Date   | Jan. 1,  | Meteorological File from Wilmington, DE |
|                 | 1961     | (W13781)                                |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Ending Date     | Dec. 31, | Meteorological File from Wilmington, DE |
|                 | 1990     | (W13781)                                |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Pan Evaporation | 0.78     | PRZM Manual Figure 5.1. (USEPA, 2006)   |
| Factor (PFAC)   |          |                                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Snowmelt Factor | 0.36 cm  | Number range CHAPTERMaximum value of    |
| (SFAC)          | °C^-1^   | minimum range of PRZM Manual Table 5.1  |
|                 |          | (USEPA, 2006)                           |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Minimum Depth   | 17.5 cm  | PRZM Manual (USEPA, 2006) Average of    |
| of              |          | 15-20 cm                                |
|                 |          |                                         |
| Evaporation     |          |                                         |
| (ANETD)         |          |                                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Pan Factor Flag | 0        | Pan Factor Flag set to read from        |
| (IPEIND)        |          | weather data as per guidance (USEPA,    |
|                 |          | 2004)                                   |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+

+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| **Table 3.**    |          |                                         |
| PRZM 3.12.2     |          |                                         |
| Erosion and     |          |                                         |
| Landscape       |          |                                         |
| Parameters for  |          |                                         |
| Gloucester      |          |                                         |
| County, NJ      |          |                                         |
| Melon Scenario. |          |                                         |
+=================+==========+=========================================+
| Parameter       | Value    | Source/Comments                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Method to       | 4 (MUSS) | PRZM Manual (USEPA, 2006)               |
| Calculate       |          |                                         |
| Erosion         |          |                                         |
| (ERFLAG)        |          |                                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| USLE K Factor   | 0.28     | USDA NRCS Soil Data Mart                |
| (USLEK)         | tons     | (http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/)    |
|                 | EI^-1\*^ |                                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| USLE LS Factor  | 0.65     | Value listed for 3.8% slope at 400 feet |
| (USLELS)        |          | using equation in Hann and Barfield     |
|                 |          | (1978)                                  |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| USLE P Factor   | 0.5      | 3.8% slope row crop with contouring     |
| (USLEP)         |          | PRZM Manual Table 5.6 (EPA, 2006)       |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Field Area      | 172 ha   | Area of Shipman Reservoir watershed     |
| (AFIELD)        |          | (EPA, 1999)                             |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| NRCS Hyetograph | 4        | PRZM Manual Figure 5.8 (USEPA, 2006)    |
| (IREG)          |          |                                         |
|                 |          | Type III, IREG=4                        |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Slope (SLP)     | 3.8%     | Mean value for Sassafras soil           |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Hydraulic       | 600 m    | Shipman Reservoir (EPA, 1999)           |
| Length (HL)     |          |                                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Irrigation Flag | 0        | Irrigation off                          |
| (IRFLAG)        |          |                                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| \* EI = 100     |          |                                         |
| ft-tons \* in/  |          |                                         |
| acre\*hr        |          |                                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+

USLE C factor and Manning's N values (Table 4) are from a RUSLE
assessment for strawberries using weather from York, PA. (RUSLE Project
File SB5STSTN) in accordance with current guidance (USEPA, 2004) This
set of values was chosen as it was in the same region of the country and
the dataset generated for soybeans were the most similar available for
this area of the country.

+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| **Table 4.**    |          |                                         |
| PRZM 3.12.2     |          |                                         |
| Crop Parameters |          |                                         |
| for Gloucester  |          |                                         |
| County, NJ      |          |                                         |
| Melon Scenario. |          |                                         |
+=================+==========+=========================================+
| Parameter       | Value    | Source/Comments                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Initial Crop    | 1        | Set to one for all crops (USEPA, 2004). |
| (INICRP)        |          |                                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Initial Surface | 1        | 1= fallow, default -- parameter is      |
| Condition       |          | ignored as ERFLAG \> 0.                 |
|                 |          |                                         |
| (ISCOND)        |          |                                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Number of       | 1        | Set to number of crops in simulation.   |
| Different Crops |          |                                         |
| (NDC)           |          |                                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Number of       | 30       | Set to weather data in meteorological   |
| Cropping        |          | file                                    |
| Periods (NCPDS) |          |                                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Maximum         | 0.25 cm  | Moderate to heavy canopy PRZM table     |
| Rainfall        |          | 5-4. Value consistent with TX melons    |
| Interception    |          | (USEPA, 2004).                          |
| Storage of Crop |          |                                         |
| (CINTCP)        |          |                                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Maximum Active  | 46 cm    | Kemble JK. Basics of crop irrigation.   |
| Root Depth      |          | Alabama cooperative extension system.   |
| (AMXDR)         |          | ANR-1169 April 2000                     |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Maximum Canopy  | 100%     | Value consistent with TX melons (USEPA, |
| Coverage        |          | 2004).                                  |
| (COVMAX)        |          |                                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Soil Surface    | 3        | 3 = residue. Melons are picked and      |
| Condition After |          | packed directly from the vines in the   |
| Harvest (ICNAH) |          | field (USDA, 1999).                     |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Date of Crop    | 01/05/61 | Seedlings planted, so planting and      |
| Emergence       |          | emergence are simultaneous, Associated  |
|                 |          | with first RUSLE date, 10 days after    |
| (EMD, EMM,      |          | planting.                               |
| IYREM)          |          |                                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Date of Crop    | 30/06/61 | Melons are usually harvested at the     |
| Maturity        |          | half slip stage of maturity and may     |
|                 |          | ripen after picking. (USDA, 2003)       |
| (MAD, MAM,      |          |                                         |
| IYRMAT)         |          |                                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Date of Crop    | 21/07/61 | USDA Crop Profile for Melons in MD      |
| Harvest (HAD,   |          | (2003)                                  |
| HAM, IYRHAR)    |          |                                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Maximum Dry     | 0.0      | Not used in scenario                    |
| Weight (WFMAX)  |          |                                         |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Maximum Crop    | 25 cm    | Value consistent with TX melons (USEPA, |
| Height (HTMAX)  |          | 2004).                                  |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| SCS Curve       | 86, 79,  | PRZM Table 5.10, B Soil, fallow, and    |
| Number (CN)     | 86       | row crop, contoured, poor condition     |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| Manning's N     | 0.040    | RUSLE Project; SB5STSTN, strawberries,  |
| Value (MNGN)    |          | York weather station; mulch             |
|                 |          | tillage(USDA, 2000).                    |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+
| USLE C Factor   | 0.0      | RUSLE Project; SB5STSTN, strawberries,  |
| (USLEC)         | 13-0.152 | York weather station weather station;   |
|                 |          | mulch tillage(USDA, 2000).              |
+-----------------+----------+-----------------------------------------+

+----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| **Table 5.** PRZM    |                   |                          |
| 3.12.2 Sassafras     |                   |                          |
| loamy sand Soil      |                   |                          |
| Parameters for       |                   |                          |
| Gloucester County,   |                   |                          |
| NJ Melon Scenario.   |                   |                          |
+----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| Parameter            | Value             | Source/Comments          |
+----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| Total Soil Depth     | 71 cm             | NRCS Soil Data Mart      |
| (CORED)              |                   | (SDM)                    |
|                      |                   | (http://soi              |
|                      |                   | ldatamart.nrcs.usda.gov) |
+----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| Number of Horizons   | 4                 | NRCS Soil Data Mart      |
| (NHORIZ)             |                   | (SDM)                    |
+----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| Horizon Thickness    | 10 cm (HORIZN =   | NRCS Soil Data Mart      |
| (THKNS)              | 1)                | (SDM). The top horizon   |
|                      |                   | was split into two       |
|                      | 20 cm (HORIZN =   | horizons as per PRZM     |
|                      | 2)                | Scenario Guidance        |
|                      |                   | (USEPA, 2004).           |
|                      | 16 cm (HORIZN =   |                          |
|                      | 3)                |                          |
|                      |                   |                          |
|                      | 25 cm (HORIZN =   |                          |
|                      | 4)                |                          |
+----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| Bulk Density (BD)    | 1.60 g/cm^3^      | NRCS Soil Data Mart      |
|                      | (HORIZN = 1)      | (SDM)                    |
|                      |                   | ([                       |
|                      | 1.60 g/cm^3^      | http://soildatamart.nrcs |
|                      | (HORIZN = 2)      | .usda.gov](http://soilda |
|                      |                   | tamart.nrcs.usda.gov/)). |
|                      | 1.55 g/cm^3^      | Midpoint of the reported |
|                      | (HORIZN = 3)      | range. PRZM Scenario     |
|                      |                   | Guidance (USEPA, 2004).  |
|                      | 1.49 g/cm^3^      |                          |
|                      | (HORIZN = 4)      |                          |
+----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| Initial Water        | 0.167 cm^3^/cm^3^ | NRCS Soil Data Mart      |
| Content (THETO)      | (HORIZN =1)       | (SDM); values are mean   |
|                      |                   | 1/3-bar water contents   |
|                      | 0.167 cm^3^/cm^3^ | of Sassafras soils       |
|                      | (HORIZN =2)       |                          |
|                      |                   |                          |
|                      | 0.178 cm^3^/cm^3^ |                          |
|                      | (HORIZN = 3)      |                          |
|                      |                   |                          |
|                      | 0.227 cm^3^/cm^3^ |                          |
|                      | (HORIZN = 4)      |                          |
+----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| Compartment          | 0.1 cm (HORIZN =  | NRCS Soil Data Mart      |
| Thickness (DPN)      | 1)                | (SDM)                    |
|                      |                   | ([                       |
|                      | 2 cm (HORIZN = 2) | http://soildatamart.nrcs |
|                      |                   | .usda.gov](http://soilda |
|                      | 4 cm (HORIZN = 3) | tamart.nrcs.usda.gov/)). |
|                      |                   | PRZM Scenario Guidance   |
|                      | 5 cm (HORIZN = 4) | (EPA, 2004).             |
+----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| Field Capacity       | 0.167 cm^3^/cm^3^ | NRCS Soil Data Mart      |
| (THEFC)              | (HORIZN =1)       | (SDM); values are mean   |
|                      |                   | 1/3-bar water contents   |
|                      | 0.167 cm^3^/cm^3^ | of Sassafras soils.      |
|                      | (HORIZN =2)       |                          |
|                      |                   |                          |
|                      | 0.178 cm^3^/cm^3^ |                          |
|                      | (HORIZN = 3)      |                          |
|                      |                   |                          |
|                      | 0.227 cm^3^/cm^3^ |                          |
|                      | (HORIZN = 4)      |                          |
+----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| Wilting Point        | 0.032 cm^3^/cm^3^ | NRCS Soil Data Mart      |
| (THEWP)              | (HORIZN =1)       | (SDM); values are mean   |
|                      |                   | 15-bar water contents of |
|                      | 0.032 cm^3^/cm^3^ | Sassafras soils.         |
|                      | (HORIZN =2)       |                          |
|                      |                   |                          |
|                      | 0.033 cm^3^/cm^3^ |                          |
|                      | (HORIZN = 3)      |                          |
|                      |                   |                          |
|                      | 0.062 cm^3^/cm^3^ |                          |
|                      | (HORIZN = 4)      |                          |
+----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+
| Organic Carbon       | 0.96% (HORIZN =   | NRCS SDM; values for     |
| Content (OC)         | 1)                | horizons 1 to 3 = mean   |
|                      |                   | %OM / 1.724. PRZM        |
|                      | 0.96% (HORIZN =   | Scenario Guidance        |
|                      | 2)                | (USEPA, 2004).           |
|                      |                   |                          |
|                      | 0.174% (HORIZN =  |                          |
|                      | 3)                |                          |
|                      |                   |                          |
|                      | 0.174% (HORIZN =  |                          |
|                      | 4)                |                          |
+----------------------+-------------------+--------------------------+

**References**

Haan, C.T., and B.J. Barfield. 1978. Hydrology and Sedimentology of
Surface Mined Lands. Office of Continuing Education and Extension,
College of Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington KY 40506. pp
286.

USDA. 1999. Crop Profile for Muskelons in Maryland. U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Pest Management Centers. October 1999. Online at:
<http://www.ipmcenters.org/CropProfiles/docs/MDmuskmelon.pdf>

USDA. 2000. Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) EPA Pesticide
Project. U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) and Agricultural Research Service (ARS).

USDA. 2005. 2002 Census of Agriculture. U.S. Department of Agriculture,
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Online at:
<http://www.nass.usda.gov/index.asp>.

USDA. 2006. Official Series Description -- Sassafras Series. U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS). Dec. 2006. Online at:
<http://ortho.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/osd/dat/S/SASSAFRAS.html>

USEPA. 1999. Jones, R.D., J. Breithaupt, J. Carleton, L. Libelo, J. Lin,
R. Matzner, and R. Parker. *Guidance for Use of the Index Reservoir in
Drinking Water Exposure Assessments.* Environmental Fate and Effects
Division, Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Washington, DC.

USEPA. 2004. Abel, S.A. *Procedure for Conducting Quality Assurance and
Quality Control of Existing and New PRZM Field and Orchard Crop Standard
Scenarios.* Environmental Fate and Effects Division, Office of Pesticide
Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.

USEPA. 2006. Carsel, R.F., J.C. Imhoff, P.R. Hummel, J.M. Cheplick, and
A.S. Donigian, Jr. *PRZM-3, A Model for Predicting Pesticide and
Nitrogen Fate in the Crop Root and Unsaturated Soil Zones: Users Manual
for Release 3.12.2.* National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of
Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Athens,
GA.