Abstract
Resumo A significant portion of papaya production in the state of Minas Gerais originates from irrigated crops, and irrigation management using the partial root zone drying technique (PRD) is a fundamental alternative to reduce water waste. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of ‘Tainung 1’ papaya produced under PRD in semi-arid conditions of northern state of Minas Gerais. PRD treatments were composed of reduction of the calculated irrigation water (CIW) by 50%, applied on one side of the irrigation line, with alternation of 7, 14 and 21 days or without alternation and full irrigation, applying 100 % CIW in both lateral plant rows. Each experimental plot consisted of ten plants, and from six plants, fruits were harvested for evaluations at harvest point and when ripe. At harvest point, fruits had peel color, titratable acidity, ratio, pulp size and thickness similar to those produced without water deficit. Firmness, soluble solids content, fresh mass and central cavity diameter are distinct as a function of PRD condition. When ripe, only firmness varied according to PRD treatments. The quality of ‘Tainung 1’ papaya produced by partial root zone drying in semi-arid conditions was not compromised.
Highlights
Brazilian papaya production in 2017 was 1,057.101 tons, and the northeastern region was the largest producer, followed by the southeastern region
According to the analysis of variance, there was no significant difference (P≥0.05) among treatments for the following variables evaluated in fruits at harvest point: peel color, L *, C * and ohue parameters, titratable acidity, soluble solids / titratable acidity ratio, fruit diameter, fruit length and pulp thickness
The quality of ‘Tainung 1’ papaya produced by partial root zone drying under semi-arid conditions of northern Minas Gerais was not compromised
Summary
Brazilian papaya production in 2017 was 1,057.101 tons, and the northeastern region was the largest producer, followed by the southeastern region. The state of Minas Gerais occupies the fifth position in production in Brazil, and 71.37% of its production comes from the northern region of the state (IBGE, 2019). Optimization of water resources is necessary in the planning of irrigation models that allow greater efficiency of water use in papaya crops. An alternative for optimizing water use efficiency is irrigation water management by partial root zone drying (PRD). This technique saves 50% of calculated irrigation water because the irrigation time is applied to only one irrigation line, alternating the irrigated side of the plant row, and not both as under normal irrigation conditions
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