In situearthworm breeding in orchards significantly improves the growth, quality and yield of papaya (Carica papayaL.)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of four fertilizer applications—control (C), chemical fertilizer (F), compost (O), and in situ earthworm breeding (E)—on the growth, quality and yield of papaya (Carica papaya L.). In this study, 5 g plant−1 urea (CH4N2O, %N = 46.3%) and 100 g plant−1 microelement fertilizer was applied to each treatment. The fertilizer applications of these four treatments are different from each other. The results showed that the E treatment had the highest growth parameters over the whole growth period. At 127 days after transplantation, the order of plant heights from greatest to smallest was E > F > O > C, and the stem diameters were E > F > O > C, with significant differences between all treatments. Soluble-solid, sugar, vitamin C, and protein content significantly increased in the E treatment. In addition, the total acid and the electrical conductivity of the fruit significantly decreased in the E treatment. Fruit firmness clearly increased in the O treatment, and decreased in the F treatment. The fresh individual fruit weights, fruit numbers, and total yields were greatly improved in the F and E treatments, and the total yield of the E treatment was higher than that in the F treatment. In conclusion, the in situ earthworm breeding treatment performed better than conventional compost and chemical fertilizer treatments. Furthermore, in situ earthworm breeding may be a potential organic fertilizer application in orchards because it not only improves the fruit quality and yield but also reduces the amount of organic wastes from agriculture as a result of the activities of earthworms.

Earthworms (Amynthas spp.) increase common bean growth, microbial biomass, and soil respiration

“…The positive influence of earthworms on common bean growth that we observed (Figure 3) corroborates other studies that have evaluated the interaction between earthworms and leguminous plants (KREUZER et al, 2004;ERIKSEN-HAMEL;WHALEN, 2007). In addition, similar effects have been observed in other species, such as ryegrass (Lolium perene L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), corn (Zea mays L.), rice (Oryza sativa L.), and papaya (Carica papaya L.) (GROENIGEN et al, 2014;XIANG et al, 2016). It is possible that nutrient availability contributed to the growth increases, given that earthworm coprolites have a higher amount of nutrients compared to the surrounding soil (FIUZA et al, 2011;LIPIEC et al, 2015).…”

Organic Management of ‘Maradol’ Papaya (Carica papaya L.) Crops: Effects on the Sensorial and Physicochemical Characteristics of Fruits

“…The differences for this trait were significant (p < 0.05) on day 8, compared with T1 and control treatments. From the sixth day of storage on, these treatments showed a dramatic decrease in the firmness of the pulp, with values below 80 N. Xiang et al [19] reported that papaya plants treated with compost had firmer fruits, which is highly desirable because they represent fewer complications during storage. The primary factor responsible for the loss of firmness is the enzymatic degradation of the cell wall components [32], and indirectly, the weight loss, primarily due to the loss of water, and consequently, of cellular turgidity.…”

“…The T1, T4, and controls presented the highest values for this trait. Xiang et al [19] reported differences in the TSS contents among the papaya fruits of plants treated with compost, which presented 12.96% more TSS than untreated plants. Sarhan et al [33] demonstrated a similar effect on Cucurbita pepo L. when using organic fertilizers (sheep manure) and bacteria from the genus Azotobacter; both treatments also increased the fruit production.…”

“…Several biological products (biofertilizers, plant extracts, earthworms, and trap crops) have been evaluated for soy, banana, and corn crops, among others. For the papaya, there is information about how organic fertilization influences the yield [18,19], the soil characteristics [20], and the plant's growth [19], but there are few studies about the effects of organic management on the fruit's physicochemical quality traits [18,19], and far fewer focused on sensory characteristics. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical and sensorial characteristics of 'Maradol' papaya fruit from organically grown plants and to compare them to fruit obtained under conventional production system.…”

Chemical Waste and Allied Products

“…including control (C), chemical fertilizer (F), compost (O), and in situ earthworm breeding (E); on the growth, Water Environment Research, Volume 89, Number 10 -Copyright © 2017 Water Environment Federation quality, and yield of papaya (Carica papaya L) were studied by Xiang et al (2016). The results demonstrated that the in situ earthworm breeding treatment performed better than the conventional compost and chemical fertilizer treatments.…”