Abstract
Abstract The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of mulch on clay loam and sandy loam soils on the start harvest, number of fruits per plant, yield and quality of yellow passion fruits in organic crop. A complete randomized block design with five treatments and four replicates of five plants each was used. Treatments corresponded to different percentages of mulch of the area occupied by the plant (3 x 3 m), extending from the center of the planting line to the planting row in 0% without mulch (T1); 25% (T2); 50% (T3); 75% (T4) and 100% (T5). Mulch anticipated the harvest in comparison to crop in uncovered soil in both types of soil. The number of fruits per plant and yield increased in a quadratic function with maximum point of 38.6 fruits plant-1 and 5,182.0 kg ha-1 with 75.7% and 78.0% of soil cover, respectively. Mulch on clay loam soil did not provide increase in the average fruit mass and did not change the quality of fruits in relation to control fruits.
Highlights
Yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Degener) is one of the most produced fruit species in Brazil, with production of 703,489 tons in 2016 in an area of 4 9,889 ha (IBGE, 2016), which has an increasing trend due to the industrialization and demand for fresh fruits in the market.In Acre, the production of this fruit in 2016 was 736 tons in 89 ha harvested, resulting in a low yield of 8.27 t ha-1 (IBGE, 2016)
Harvesting in area with sandy loam soil started at 256 days after planting (DAP) in cultivation with 100% mulch
In the clay loam soil, harvest started at 214 DAP in soil with 100% mulch, anticipating in 100 days the harvest in relation to treatment without soil mulching, which started at 314 DAP (Figure 1)
Summary
In Acre, the production of this fruit in 2016 was 736 tons in 89 ha harvested, resulting in a low yield of 8.27 t ha-1 (IBGE, 2016). It represents a good planting option in the regional fruit activity for offering quick economic returns and distributed income throughout the year. Yellow passion fruit in the state of Acre is sown 60 days before planting (September), and field planting is performed at the beginning of the rainy season (November). When there is water deficit in the soil and presence of photoperiod less than 11 h day-1, which stops plant flowering and fruiting (CAMPOS, 2011; COSTA et al, 2009), this period after planting provides an “out-of-season” harvest for presenting low productivity (ANDRADE JÚNIOR et al, 2003), only 2.8 t ha-1 in the conditions of dry land organic farming of Acre (ARAÚJO NETO et al, 2009)
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