Quality of ‘Tainung 1’ papaya produced by partial root zone drying

Abstract

Resumo A significant portion of papaya production in the state of Minas Gerais originates from irrigated crops, and irrigation management using the partial root zone drying technique (PRD) is a fundamental alternative to reduce water waste. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of ‘Tainung 1’ papaya produced under PRD in semi-arid conditions of northern state of Minas Gerais. PRD treatments were composed of reduction of the calculated irrigation water (CIW) by 50%, applied on one side of the irrigation line, with alternation of 7, 14 and 21 days or without alternation and full irrigation, applying 100 % CIW in both lateral plant rows. Each experimental plot consisted of ten plants, and from six plants, fruits were harvested for evaluations at harvest point and when ripe. At harvest point, fruits had peel color, titratable acidity, ratio, pulp size and thickness similar to those produced without water deficit. Firmness, soluble solids content, fresh mass and central cavity diameter are distinct as a function of PRD condition. When ripe, only firmness varied according to PRD treatments. The quality of ‘Tainung 1’ papaya produced by partial root zone drying in semi-arid conditions was not compromised.

Impact of soil water regimes and partial root-zone drying in field-grown papaya in semi-arid conditions

“…Although several studies have been conducted on the PRD technique, there are still knowledge gaps for different types of soil, climate and crops, to determine the feasibility of the PRD technique to farmers 17 , 18 , especially for some fruit trees, such as papaya 10 , 13 , 19 . Few studies have considered PRD techniques in papaya plants under controlled conditions (i.e., under greenhouse condition 9 , 10 ), while PRD studies under papaya field conditions have just recently started 10 , 13 , 19 , 20 . This study reported that the PRD technique using irrigated side alternation frequency each 7–14 days with a 35% reduction in the irrigation depth could be a feasible technique to increase water use efficiency under semi-arid conditions.…”