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Soil fertility, growth and fruit quality of papaya Tainung, under fertirrigation with potassium

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of soil fertility, plant growth, mineral composition in leaves and petioles, productivity and fruit quality of papaya Formosa, Cv. 'Tainung No.1' in terms of levels of potassium fertilization on soil applied by fertigation. The experiment was carried during the growing seasons of 2008/2009 and 2010/2011 in a randomized blocks, with five replications, installed in an area of commercial cultivation in the of Russas city in Ceará state, Brazil. The treatments were: four doses of KCl (60; 120; 180 and 240 g plant month-1), applied as KCl in irrigation water along with conventional fertilizers used in cultivation of papaya in a Typic Quartzipisamment of farm. Treatment doses influence soil fertility by increasing the concentrations of N, P, K, organic matter and leached the soil base maximized the growth and yield of papaya. The absorption of N, P and K in the papaya tree was greater during the highest productivity. P showed the greates accumulation in the fruit. The levels of K influenced fruit quality. The dose 180 g plant per montn-1 favors the production of best quality fruits for table consumption and processing of pulp.

Key words:
Carica papaya L.; Soil fertility; Nutrition

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