NEW PAPAYA MALKIA F1 HYBRID

Malkia F1 Hybrid 

Papaya being a tropical fruit grows well in the mild sub-tropical regions up to 1,000 m above sea level. Night temperature below 120-140 C for several hours during winter season affects its growth and production severely. It is very much sensitive to frost, strong winds and water stagnation.

Generally papaya grows well in the tropical and sub tropical climates. It performs well in regions with even rainfall of 1200 mm to 1500 mm throughout the year without dry spell with temperature of 21 – 33°C. It should not be planted in areas with strong wind because the plant is shallow rooted and easily lodged.

Soil Suitability: Papaya prefers fertile, deep, well drained sandy loam soil with pH ranges from 5.5 to 6.7 for normal growth and production. It also requires good soil drainage.

Land preparation: For open field planting, the land is plowed and harrowed twice. An elevated plot along the row is made by plowing on barring with two passes on each side. This will insure proper irrigation and drainage. Organic fertilizer and manure should be spread and incorporated in the soil during land preparation.

Planting System: Planting of papaya is carried out at the commencement of a rainy season. Prior to that, holes are dug in the summer months about a fortnight before planting. The seedlings are planted in holes of 60x60x60 cm. size. The holes are filled with top soil along with 20 kg farmyard manure. Tall and vigorous varieties are planted at greater spacing while medium and dwarf ones at closer spacing. In India a spacing of 1.8 x 1.8 m. 

Plant care and maintenance: There are no reliable characteristics to distinguish male, female and hermaphrodite plants until they bear flowers. This is the reason why 2-3 plants are recommended to be planted and allowed to grow on each hill until flowering. The plants bear flower in 6 months after germination. When the flowers appear and the sex determined, remove the male and undesirable plants. Leave only on vigorous hermaphrodite of female plant.

1. Remove side growths along the leaf axles that occur during the early stages of plant growth. They compete with plant nutrients needed by the plant. These areas can also harbor pests and diseases.
2. Always exercise general sanitation. Clean fields minimize spread of pests and diseases.
3. Regularly remove diseased, senescent and dried leaves. These areas provide good habitat and unnecessary source of pests and diseases.
4. Cut down and carry away blown down and diseased trees from the field. Diseased leaves and fruits will be removed and buried or burned.

Weed control: Weeds are host and vector/carrier of pest and plant diseases.

Weeding is very necessary for papaya, to sanitize its immediate environment from insect pests that climb the trunk like ants carrying aphids and scales. It will remove competitor for plant food nutrients in the soil.

1. Round weed newly established fields. Clean an area of one meter radius around the base of the plant.
2. Avoid herbicides as much as possible since they kill microorganism in the soil that helps enhance decomposition of organic wastes into fertilizer and plant food.
3. Slash tall weeds in between the rows or pass them with harrow to keep them down.
4. Maintain the cleanliness of the field at all times.
5. Always remember that weeds can reduce by 25% your production.                                                                                                                                                                                                              
   
   
   Pruning: Basically, papaya trees do not require pruning. It is because their main growing point is terminal and branched trees generally do not produce as well. Some growers pinch the seedlings or cut back established plants, therefore, to encourage multiple trunks for the tree. To facilitate the growth and fruiting of the tree, selecting 1 or 2 of the most vigorous shoots and removes it from the others. Besides that, removal of dead leaves is a good practice and results in less scarring of the fruit from the base of the leaf petiole, it helps reduces disease and insect problems.
   
   
   Mulching: For the papaya mulching, the mulching can be practiced within 2 – 6 inch (5-15 cm) layer of bark, wood chips or similar mulch materials. This is the benefits of mulching practices: retains soil moisture, reduces weed problems adjacent to the tree trunk and improves the soil near the surface.
   
   

Irrigation Requirements: Generally papaya is irrigated to encourage development and healthy growth especially during the early stage of plant growth. The lack of moisture for papaya trees produced drought-stress symptom. The papaya may drop flowers, leaves and young fruit and also produce small fruit of low sugar content. To minimize flower drop or fruit drop, irrigate the plants before the soil gets dry. Weekly watering is advisable during dry months. Avoid too much watering to prevent fungal infection. See to it that soil is aerated from time to time through shallow cultivation to avoid root rot.

Drip System: Generally, it is recommended for papaya. This system ensures a uniform distribution of water. An irrigation application rate 4 to 5 gal/plant at 2 to 3 day intervals can conservatively increase yield by about 20 percent over rain-fed crop yield.

Fertilization: Plant nutrition should constantly be monitored and needed fertilizer is applied on time. The best fertilizer is the organic compost mixed with the soil during land preparation. This should be augmented with chemical fertilizers high in potash and contain trace mineral elements. Boron is one critical element that needs to be always present as it is needed for flower fertilization and fruit development; 20-40 grams Boron is adequate for each plant. It is recommended that small amount of fertilizer be applied at frequent intervals. For young papaya plants, apply 0.125 kg of a complete fertilizer (NPK) with the amounts increasing as trees become larger at every 14 days. When the papaya trees reach the age of 7 to 8 month old, apply 0.5 kg to 1.0 kg of complete fertilizer every other month while for the minor elements applied once a month. Minor elements include manganese and zinc applied to low soil pH (7 or less). Foliar applied for plants growing in high pH soils. FeSO₄ may be applied to ground for plants growing in low pH soils.

Below this are the recommended fertilization programmed:

Option1

Age of Trees (month)	Compound Fertiliser (N:P:K:Mg)	No. of Application/year	Amount of Fertiliser Plant/year (kg)
1	15:15:15	3-4	0.05
2	15:15:15	3-4	0.05
3	15:15:15	3-4	0.10
5	12:12:17:2	3-4	0.35
>5	12:12:17:2	6	0.35
Every 6 months	Organic	2	2.0