The objective of the work was to determine the effect of frequency of phosphorous application by surface and subsurface drip water irrigation on papaya, cv, Tainung nº 1 (Carica papaya L.) and yield. The evaluated growth variable was: days after planting (DAP). The experiment followed a random block design in a factorial 2 x 4 + 1, with three replications and 12 plants per plot. Two micro irrigation systems (subsurface drip irrigation and surface drip irrigation) and four phosphorous fertirrigation frequencies (30, 60, 90 e 120 days) plus a conventional application were considered. Monoammonic phosphate (MAP) was used as phosphorous source. Variance analysis indicated that there was effect of the irrrigation system ggrowth variables for 317 DAP. Also the analysis indicated significant effect of the interaction irrigation system x fertirrigation frequency on steam diameter for 69 DAP and for leaf area index for 182 DAP. The phosphorous application by fertirrigation at frequencies of 30 and 60 days in both drip systems provided better results on growth variables and on yield. All growth variables and yield from fertirrigated treatments were larger than the ones obtained under conventional fertilizing.
Carica papaya; frequency of application; monoamonic phosphite
