Step by Step Production Technology of Papaya Fruit
Importance
of Papaya Cultivation:
- An important quick growing fruit of Bangladesh, India and others country.
- Present production is 105000 tons from 7700 ha in Bangladesh
- It is a highly problematic, complicated and interesting fruit crop from botanical, genetical, cytogenetical and horticultural points of view
- Can be cultivated successfully in small space of homestead
Composition
and uses
- Very rich in vitamins like vitamin A, B & C and minerals like P & Ca
- Possesses high medicinal value
- The ripe fresh fruits are used as dessert and green fruits are used as vegetable. Jam, soft drinks, ice-cream flavoring etc can be prepared from ripe fruit
Characteristics
of Shahi Pepe
Sexuality : Dioecious
Plant height: 1.6-2.0 m
Bearing habit: Start bearing from near to ground level
Fruit weight: 850-1000 g
Flesh thickness: 2 cm
Flesh color: Deep Orange
Seeds per fruit: 500-530
TSS: 12%
Number of fruits/plant: 40-60
Yield: 50 tons
Production
Technology of Papaya
Soil
and Climate
- Well drained loam to sandy-loam soil rich in organic matter
- Papaya thrives well on soil with pH ranging from 5.5 to 7.0
- Plants are highly sensitive to flooding
- It has been ranked as not tolerant or extremely sensitive to salt stress
- The optimum temperature for papaya is 210 to 330 C
- Papaya is classified as a shade avoiding species
Land
Preparation
- Land should be prepared well
- For quick drainage bed system must be followed
- Bed should be 1.7 m wide and 20-25 cm high
- There should be 30 cm drain in between two beds
- The length of bed will be as per land
- Bed should be raised before pit preparation
Raising
of seedling
- Seeds should be sown in 10 cm apart rows in seed beds at 3-4 cm distance and 1.0-1.5 cm depth
- Seeds are also sown in perforated poly bags (15 ´ 10 cm) filled with 50% river silt and 50% cow-dung
- 2-3 seeds are advised to sow in each poly bag
- Seeds should be soaked in water for several hours before sowing
- Watering should be done at 2-3 days interval after seed sowing
Number
of seedling required
- Pits are prepared at 2 m apart in the beds (2 × 2 m spacing) and three seedlings are transplanted in each pit. So, a total of 7500 seedlings are required for 2500 pits per hectare
Pit
preparation
- Pit size should be 60 ´ 60 ´ 45 cm
- Manure and fertilizers like cow-dung 15 kg, TSP 500g, gypsum 250g, boric acid 20 g, zinc sulphate 20 g are to be applied per pit 10-15 days before transplanting
Time
of seed sowing and transplanting
- September-October and December-January are two suitable time for seed sowing
- Seedlings become ready for transplanting at 40-50 days after sowing
Transplanting
- Three seedlings are to be planted per pit at 30 cm distance in triangular form
- In case of monoecious type one seedling is planted per pit
- Poly bag is to be removed carefully keeping ball undisturbed
- Seedlings are to be placed in the same depth as it was in the bed or in the poly bag
Top
dressing of fertilizers
- 450-500 g each of urea and MP are to be applied per pit
- 50 g urea and 50 g MP are to be top dressed at one month interval starting from one month after planting
- The doses should be doubled after flowering
- Irrigation is essential following top dressing in dry season
Weeding
- Papaya field should always be kept weed – free
- In the rainy season weeding should be done by ‘Hasua’ or lawn mower without loosening the soil
Irrigation
and drainage
- Frequent light irrigation is required during dry season
- During rainy season quick drainage must be ensured
Removal
of extra plants
- After fruit set two plants from each pit are to be removed keeping the best female plant
- 5% male should be allowed to facilitate pollination
Fruit
thinning
- Most of the papaya varieties bear 2-3 fruits per cluster
- Extra fruits should be thinned out keeping the best one only
- In 2nd or following years, the plant bears overcrowded fruit. The smaller fruits needs to be pruned
Diseases,
insect pests and remedy
Damping
off and collar rot
- Serious disease of papaya in the seed bed and causes considerable damage to the crop during rainy season.
- Damp growing condition favors the disease.
Remedy
- Seed treatment with Vitavax or Captan @ 2-3 g per kg of seed
- Sterilization of nursery bed by burning saw dust or rice hull (6 cm thick)
- Soil amendment by poultry litre @ 5 t/ha
- Solarization of the bed prior to seed sowing
- Drenching of Ridomoil MZ @ 2 g/L
Anthracnose
- Brown lesions are appeared on fruits which enlarges with the development of fruit
Remedy
- Spraying of Knowin or Topsin @ 2 g/L 2-3 times at 10-15 days interval
Papaya
mosaic virus
- Yellow patches are appeared on leaves and fruits, bending of petiole and plant growth become stunted
- The disease is transmitted by aphid
Ring
spot virus
- The affected plants are in growth, show yellow mottling and distortion of leaves, bending down of petiole followed by death of the plant
- Oil soaked ring spots are found on stem and fruits. Diseased plants yield little or no crop
- The disease is transmitted by aphids
Control measure
- Uprooting and burning of diseased plant
- Control of vector
Mealy
bug
- Mealy bugs suck on leaves, fruits and weaken the plants. Plant growth and yield are affected seriously
- They also cause sooty mould secreting honey dew
Remedy
- Clean cultivation, destruction of infested leaves and fruits with insects
- Application of Dimethoate 40EC (Perfecthion/ Taphgar) @ 2 ml/L 2-3 times at 15 days interval
Nematode
- Nematodes cause root-knot in papaya. The affected plants become weak and dwarf
- They also facilitate entrance of soil borne pathogen
- Infected roots, rain and irrigation water help dissemination of nematode
Remedy
- Crop rotation with mustard, ground nut, wheat or maize
- Application of Furadan 3G @ 5g per pit
- Soil amendment with poultry liter @ 3 t/ha or MOC @ 300 kg/ha
Nutrient
deficiency problem
B
deficiency
- Papaya is highly sensitive to B
- B deficiency creates three symptoms i) curling of leaves, ii) secretion of latex from developing fruits and iii) deformation of fruits
Remedy
- Application of boric acid @ 20 g/pit
- Spraying of boric acid @ 2 g/L 2-3 times at 10-15 days interval when symptoms are appeared on plants or fruits
Zn
deficiency
- The plants turn mixed colour of white-green. Leaf venation show white net like appearance.
Remedy
- Spraying of ZnO to leaves @ 2g/L 2-3 times at 10-15 days interval
S
deficiency
- Leaves turn yellow, the plants become weak and show stunted growth. The symptom resembles mosaic virus disease
Remedy
- Spraying of Thiovit or Cumulas @ 2 g/L 2-3 times at 10-15 days interval
Harvesting
- When the latex of the fruit becomes almost watery, the fruits is considered ready for harvest
- Fruits for local market can be harvested when they are half ripe
- Yellow bands are appeared on fruit surface
- The first crop of fruits is harvested in 12-14 months after transplanting
- Fruit should be harvested in the morning
- Fruits can be dipped in hot water at 550 C for 5 minutes
