Articles
Effect of sustainable fertilizer regime on papaya (‘Red Lady’ and ‘Tainung No. 2’) yield parameters
Article number
1250_2
Pages
7 – 14
Language
English
Abstract
Papaya demands nutrients continuously in large amounts, and uses large quantities of expensive chemically formulated fertilizers.
A field experiment was conducted at the University Field Station, Mt.
Hope, to study the effect of planting date and reduced/sustainable fertilizer regime on production of two cultivars of papaya (Carica papaya L. Red Lady and Tainung No. 2) in a river estate loam soil.
The experiment comprised four reduced fertilizer regimes: Agribiotics® (microbes and humic acid), Arbor Green Pro® (30-10-7, slow-release fertilizer), urea and 12-12-17+2 (Farmers treatment), and no fertilizer as the control.
The results showed that Red Lady and Tainung No.2 treated with Arbor Green Pro® and Agribiotics® performed significantly better than the other treatments for plant height, fruit number and quality. Red Lady plants treated with Arbor Green Pro® were also more tolerant to Bunchy top virus and yielded greater fruit weights than other treatments. Tainung No. 2 plants produced higher yields with Agribiotics® treatment, but were very susceptible to Bunchy top virus. These results demonstrate that increased yields can be obtained by using more sustainable fertilizer management, while decreasing fertilizer usage, thereby significantly increasing profits for farmers.
A field experiment was conducted at the University Field Station, Mt.
Hope, to study the effect of planting date and reduced/sustainable fertilizer regime on production of two cultivars of papaya (Carica papaya L. Red Lady and Tainung No. 2) in a river estate loam soil.
The experiment comprised four reduced fertilizer regimes: Agribiotics® (microbes and humic acid), Arbor Green Pro® (30-10-7, slow-release fertilizer), urea and 12-12-17+2 (Farmers treatment), and no fertilizer as the control.
The results showed that Red Lady and Tainung No.2 treated with Arbor Green Pro® and Agribiotics® performed significantly better than the other treatments for plant height, fruit number and quality. Red Lady plants treated with Arbor Green Pro® were also more tolerant to Bunchy top virus and yielded greater fruit weights than other treatments. Tainung No. 2 plants produced higher yields with Agribiotics® treatment, but were very susceptible to Bunchy top virus. These results demonstrate that increased yields can be obtained by using more sustainable fertilizer management, while decreasing fertilizer usage, thereby significantly increasing profits for farmers.
Publication
Authors
W. Martin, W.-A.P. Isaac, A. Khan, A.B. Persad
Keywords
papaya, sustainable fertilizer use, fruit weight, colour
Groups involved
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