An experiment was carried out at the Agronomy School of Federal University of Bahia, Brazil, Cruz das Almas, during the period of June 1998 to December 2000, with the objective of evaluating the impact of good management practices on soil physical properties of an alic and cohesive yellow Latosol and the productivity of papaya. The treatments were: 1. manual weeding with hoe in total area; 2. harrowing in the interrows and herbicide in the rows; 3. manual weeding with hoe in total area + subsoiling ; 4. subsoiling + jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) in the rows; 5. subsoiling + Crotalaria juncea in the rows; 6. subsoiling + cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in the rows; 7. subsoiling + liming + gipsum and jack bean in the rows; 8. subsoiling + spontaneous vegetation in the rows, cutting when necessary. The statistical design was randomized blocks with three replications. Experimental plots contained 36 plants, of which 16 useful, in spacing 3 x 2 m. The treatments with subsoiling was performed in the experimental area in a crossed way before the planting. Leguminous plants were sowed in May/June and mowed in September/October. The weed control in rows was mechanical (T1 and T3) and chemical with glyphosate at dosages of 1% (v/v) in the other treatments. The treatments with management of leguminous plants in the papaya interrows provided the greatest benefits in the soil physical properties. Treatments with leguminous plants and spontaneous vegetation produced significantly higher fruit yields , expressed in total fruit weight (ton per hectare) and showed the highest number of fruit per hectare.
Carica papaya; Soil management; subsoiling; green manure
