Mineral nutrition of papaya tree (Carica papaya L.): IV - fruit development and nutrient exportation by harvesting

Abstract

The present research was set out under field conditions in "Presidente Medici" Experimental Statiom, at Botucatu county, São Paulo, Brazil, on a soil classified as Paleudalf and a climate classified as Cf.b.. The purposes were to follow papaya fruit development and to determine the variations in fruit nutrient concentration during growth, as well as to calculate total exported nutrients by fruits. It was concluded that nutrients exportation by tons of harvested fruit was: N - 1.770 g; P - 200 g; K 2.120 g; Ca -350 g; Mg - 180 g; S - 200 g; B - 989 mg; Cu - 300 mg; Fe -3,364 mg; Mh - 1,847 mg; Mo - 8 mg; and, Zn - 1,385 mg.