In this experiment the effect of different irrigation rates and soil coverings on qualitative aspects as well as yield components of the papaya cv. ‘Golden’ during the period December 2003 to November 2004 were evaluated. A randomized complete block design was used with three replications in a factorial scheme. The results demonstrate high correlation involving the factors harvest season, incidence of skin freckles and yield components. With relation to skin freckles a seasonal incidence was confirmed, showing that for cv. ‘Golden’, the major incidence of the disturbance was verified in September. The mulching treatment was promising for the factors studied, in contrast to the green covering using the leguminosae Arachis pintoe, due to competition with the papaya trees for water and nutrients, causing a reduction in the yield components.
Carica papaya L.; alternative handling; physiological disturbance
