Growth, yield, and water-use efficiency of papaya plants in the semi-arid region of Bahia State, Brazil

Abstract

The papaya is an important crop grown in Bahia State, Brazil and an alternative for semi-arid regions. The aim of this research was to evaluate the plant growth, total yield, weight-fruit distribution, and the water-use efï¬ciency of papaya under ï¬ve irrigation depths. This study was conducted at an experimental ï¬eld of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology Baiano - Campus Guanambi using the variety 'Havai Gold' irrigated by drip. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with ï¬ve treatments and four replicates. The treatments consisted of ï¬ve irrigation depths: 55, 70, 85, 100, and 115% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc). The total yield, water-use efï¬ciency, plant height, number of leaves per plant, and crown diameter of 'Havai Gold' papaya plants are not altered by the irrigation depths; however, the yield of the fruit-weight class F linearly increases with irrigation depths. Considering that the irrigation depths above 74.94 and 77.40% of ETc do not increase plant height and stem diameter, respectively, the irrigation management of papaya in this region can be scheduled using 75 to 100% of ETc.