In Egypt there are three study sites: Kalabsho, near the north coast, Abu Ghalib, north-west of Cairo and Minya, in the south. The first sowing of the common experiment was in Al Ghalib where watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) was sown in March 2022, followed by cucumber (Cucumis sativus) in September 2022 and a second cucumber crop in January 2023. At Kalabsho, cucumber (March 2023) will be followed by watermelon in November 2023 and cucumber in March 2024, while at Minya the planting schedule is for a series of cucumber crops in September 2023, January 2024 and September 2024.

Watermelon plants (Citrullus lanatus) at fruiting stage in Al Ghalib. Left: biodegradable mulch; right: conventional LDPE mulch.