Mineral nutrition of papaya: I. growth curve of papaya trees (Carica papaya L.) under field conditions

Abstract

A field experiment with papaya trees was set out on Paleudalf type of soil in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil, to study the growth curve of the plants. Nine samples were taken at monthly intervals starting four months after planting. Each sample was constituted of one plant in each of the four experimental replicates. The following parameters were determined: fresh and dry weight of leaves, and flowers plus fruits; stem height and diameter at 10 cm above soil surface. Independently of climatic variations during the first year, a continue and upward dry matter accumulation was observed.