Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore-560006.
*Contribution No. 357 of the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, 255, Upper Palace Orchards, Bangalore-560006.
A 33 confounded factorial fertilizer trial was conducted to study the response of papaya to 3 levels each of N (125, 250 and 500 g N/Plant/year), P (0, 110 and 220 g P/plant/year) and K (0, 415 and 830 g K/plant/year). Plant height and trunk diameter were significantly influenced by N and P while K influenced trunk diameter only. A positive correlation was found between plant height and trunk diameter at flowering and yield/plant. A dose of 250 g N, 110 g P and 415 g K/plant/year, given in 6 split applications, was found to be the best and gave an estimated yield of 186.8 tonnes/ha in 28 months at a spacing of 2.4 m x 2.4 m and a per plant yield of 66.6 fruits weighing 107.6 kg. Application of K significantly increased the TSS. of fruit and the interaction NK was significant. When K was adequate, the TSS was not lowered by high N fertilization.
