ARS | Publication request: YIELD OF PAPAYA IRRIGATED WITH FRACTIONS OF CLASS A PAN EVAPORATION IN A SEMIARID ENVIRONMENT

Submitted to: Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: November 20, 2003
Publication Date: January 5, 2004
Citation: Goenaga, R., Rivera, E., Almodovar, C. Yield of papaya irrigated with fractions of Class A pan evaporation in a semiarid environment. Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico. 2004. v. 88. p. 1-8.

Interpretive Summary: In most tropical regions, papaya is grown either in wet-and-dry climates characterized by erratic rainfall patterns and prolonged dry periods or in fertile but semiarid lands under irrigation. There is little information regarding optimum water requirement for papaya in the tropics, particularly under semiarid conditions. A study was undertaken to determine the optimum water requirement for papaya grown under semiarid conditions with drip irrigation and to examine how fruit weight and quality are affected by various levels of irrigation. The highest marketable fruit weight (75,907 kg/ha) was obtained when plants were replenished with 125% of the water lost through evapotranspiration (WLET). This represents a 33% increase in fruit weight over that obtained in plants replensihed with 25% WLET. Irrigation treatments did not affect fruit sweetness. It was concluded that, to attain high yield of marketable fruits, papaya grown under semiarid conditions should be irrigated with not less than 100% WLET. The recommendations made in this study are highly transferable and will be used by Extension Specialists and growers.

Technical Abstract: There is scarcity of information regarding the optimum water requirement for papaya (Carica papaya) grown under semiarid conditions with drip irrigation in the tropics. A 2-yr study was conducted to determine water requirement, yield, and fruit quality traits of papaya cv Red Lady subjected to five levels of irrigation. The irrigation treatments were based on Class A pan factors that ranged from 0.25 to 1.25 in increments of 0.25. Drip irrigation was supplied three times a week on alternate days. Results showed significant irrigation treatment effects on number of fruits, yield and fruit length. Irrigation treatments did not have a significant effect on brix (sweetness) taken from fruits. Highest marketable fruit weight (75,906 kg/ha) was obtained from plants irrigated with water application according to a pan factor of 1.25. It was concluded that papaya grown under semiarid conditions should be irrigated with a pan factor not less than 1.0.