Effect of different irrigation and fertilizer levels on growth, yield and cost economics of papaya (Carica papaya L.) cv. red lady under open field conditions

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to study the growth, yield and cost economics of papaya (Carica papaya L.) cv. Red lady as influenced by different irrigation and fertilizer levels. This experiment was conducted at PFDC (Precision farming development center), Department of Horticulture, UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru during 2018-19 and 2019-20. The experiment was laid out with twelve different treatments replicated thrice. The spacing followed was 1.8 m x 1.8 m. The results revealed that treatment T12 - I4F3 at 60%, 90% and 120% E pan(mm/day) + 125 RDF was noticed highest vegetative and reproductive parameters like plant height, stem girth, number of flowers, number of fruits, fruit weight, fruit yield per plant, fruit yield per hector and cost economics was showed significantly highest. This was followed by T11- I4F2 at 60%, 90% and 120% E pan(mm/day) + 100% RDF, whereas the least vegetative, yield parameter and also lesser cost benefit ratio was observed in T1 - I1F1 30%,50% and 60% E pan(mm/day) +75% RDF at 90, 180, 270, 360, 450 and 540 days after transplanting under open field condition respectively.