Papaya production under water salinity irrigation and phosphate fertilization

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate different saline concentrations in irrigation water and phosphate fertilization in papaya seedlings. The experiment was carried out in a protected environment at the Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG) at the Centro de Ciências e Tecnologia Agroalimentar (CCTA) in the municipality of Pombal-PB. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 5 x 4 factorial scheme corresponding to five concentrations of electric conductivity EC (0.3, 1.3, 3.3, and 4.3 dS m^-1) and four phosphorus doses (0, 0.78, 1.58, 2.36 g dm^-3) with three replicates. The seedlings were conducted in polyethylene bags with a capacity of 1 dm^-3and 50 days after sowing it was evaluated the plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, mass of fresh and dry matter (leaf, stem, root), percentage of biomass, water content, salt tolerance index and Dickson quality index. The interaction of the factors promoted a significant effect on plant height, biomass percentage, water content and Dickson quality index. Biomass growth and production are inhibited by increased salinity. Phytomasses obtained their highest values on average with 1.4 g dm^-3 of phosphorus. Phosphorus did not inhibit saline stress on papaya seedlings.