Nutritional status of papaya (pawpaw) (cv. Caliman 01) as a function of NK fertilization and planting space

Abstract

In Brazil, it's not properly known the nutritional requirements of papaya plant, there are, therefore, a need for more research projects about the management of mineral fertilizer. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status of papaya as a function of planting space and fertilization with NK in coverage. The experiment was developed in an experimental area of the Federal University of Piauí, Campus Prof.a Cinobelina Elvas, Bom Jesus, Piauí State, Brazil, from November 2011 to November 2012. It was adopted the randomized block design in a factorial arrangement 2 x 4 x 4, corresponding to: i) planting space (single and double) doses of nitrogen (0.320, 0.400, 0.480 and 0.560 kg m-2) and iii) doses of potassium (0.380, 0.475, 0.570 and 0.665 kg m-2), with four replications and three plants per plot. It was evaluated the levels of macronutrients in leaf dry matter of plants of papaya, cv. Caliman 01. There is influence of planting space and fertilization with NK in foliar macronutrients, with superiority for double spacing with respect to the simple. For adequate nutritional status of papaya cv. Caliman 01, grown in single spacing it is recommended a dose of 400 g plant-1 of nitrogen combined with 440g plant-1 of potassium, while for the double spacing, it is recommended 320g plant-1 of nitrogen in combination with 440 g plant-1 of potassium.