Optimal size of experimental plots of papaya trees using a modified maximum curvature method

Mauricio Dos Santos Da Silva,Sérgio Luiz Rodrigues Donato,Gilmara De Melo Araújo Silva,Sebastião De Oliveira E Silva,Orlando Melo Sampaio Filho

doi:10.1590/0103-8478cr20180930

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate the optimum plot size for the papaya crop by using the modified maximum curvature method under soil and climatic conditions of the Recôncavo Baiano. The experiment comprised a uniformity test using the CNPMF-L78 strain developed by Embrapa Mandioca and Fruticultura, planted at a spacing of 3 m x 2 m, with 16 central rows and 22 plants per row, totaling 352 plants and an area of 2,112 m2. The following parameters were evaluated: plant height and diameter; height of insertion of the first fruits; precocity; number of commercial fruits per plant; productivity; length, diameter, weight, firmness, internal cavity diameter, pulp thickness, and soluble fruit solids. Each plant was considered as a basic unit, with an area of 6 m2, thus making up 352 basic units whose adjacent units were combined to form 11 pre-established parcel arrangements with rectangular and row formats. The optimal plot size is seven plants perpendicular to the crop rows, that is, seven rows with one plant in each row, corresponding to the area of 42 m2, considering spacing of 3 m between rows and 2 m between papaya plants in the soil and climatic conditions of the Recôncavo Baiano.

Highlights

Papaya, Carica papaya L., is a fruit tree with high economic value in Brazil, being the second largest world producer of this crop (1.01 million tons), followed by India (5.94 million tons) (FAO, 2017)
The modified maximum curvature method (MMCM) (MEIER & LESSMAN, 1971) is an improved version of the maximum curvature method, which could not determine the point of maximum curvature using equations
Eleven shapes were evaluated to estimate plot size. Their coefficients of variation are shown in Ciência Rural, v.49, n

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Carica papaya L., is a fruit tree with high economic value in Brazil, being the second largest world producer of this crop (1.01 million tons), followed by India (5.94 million tons) (FAO, 2017). The modified maximum curvature method (MMCM) (MEIER & LESSMAN, 1971) is an improved version of the maximum curvature method, which could not determine the point of maximum curvature using equations. This method consists of plotting the values of the variation coefficients of different traits against the pre-established plot sizes, obtaining a curve that represents the inverse relationship between the traits. V.49, n.9, given the importance of papayas to Brazil and the need for further research on this species, the goal of this study was to evaluate the optimal plot size for the crop using the MMCM under the soil and climatic conditions of the Recôncavo region in the state of Bahia

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION