Integrated Nutrient Management Studies in Papaya Carica papaya L

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at Department of Horticulture, University of newlineAgricultural Sciences, Dharwad during 2006-08 to study the influence of organic manures and newlinetheir combinations and integrated nutrient management practices mainly use of organic newlinemanures with varied levels of RDF on growth, yield and yield components, quality, post-harvest newlineparameters, major and micro-nutrient status of the soil after crop harvest in papaya (cv. Surya). newlineIn the organic manure experiment, all the growth parameters and yield components newlinewere improved with the organic manurial treatments comprising of FYM, agrigold, newlinevermicompost, sheep manure either alone or in combination with FYM. Application of organic newlinemanures had an additive effect on the quality attributes and with respect to post-harvest traits, newlineorganic manure treatments registered least physiological loss of weight with higher fruit firmness newlineand longer shelf life of papaya fruits. Fruit yield was maximum in FYM at 100% RDN followed newlineby FYM + agrigold each with 50% RDN and agrigold at 100% RDN (173.9, 172.9 and 170.6 newlinet/ha, respectively). The ratio of benefit:cost was maximum (5.85) with pressmud and minimum newlinewith bhumilabh at 100% RDN (2.25). newlineIn integrated nutrient management experiment, FYM, vermicompost, pressmud, sheep newlinemanure and agrigold applied at 50% RDN in combination with varied levels of RDF (50, 100 newlineand 150%) recorded higher values for growth, yield components, quality and post-harvest newlineparameters. Significantly higher fruit yield of 197.3, 196.3 and 192.6 t/ha was recorded newlinein FYM, agrigold and vermicompost at 50% RDN with RDF at 150%, respectively. While, newlinecontrol with RDF at 50% recorded lower fruit yield of 120.5 t/ha. The B:C ratio was higher with newlinepressmud at 50% RDN + 50% RDF (6.03) and was lower in vermicompost at 50% RDN + newline150% RDF (3.37). newlineIn both the experiments, higher organic carbon content, available major nutrients and newlineDTPA extractable micronutrients were noticed with the application of organic manures as newlinecompared to control. newline