Back I. M. Desoky1, M. Riad2, and E. L. Belatus3
Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University1,
Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation2 and
Horticulture Research Institute, ARC, MALR, Egypt3
Full Paper (PDF File: 129KB)
Abstract
The study was conducted at the EM experimental plot "Groppir Fern" to investigate the effect, rate and application method of EM1 as plant and soil weekly application (EMPS) and EM compost as monthly application (EMC) on growth, yield and fruit quality of papaya plants in Egypt. Papaya plants were planted eight months before starting the experiment in clay loamy soil. Monthly measurements were collected concerning plant vegetative growth, fruit flesh, total soluble solids (TSS) and acidity in pulp juice.
The EM1 results showed that the plants became more vigorous. No significant differences were found when using the higher tested rate of chemical fertilizers (TRCF) (27.7 cm, 4.1 cm) for height and girth respectively, together with reducing the (TRCF) to 50% and the (EMC) was doubled (28.8 cm 4.7 cm). While using EM1 only, comparable results (20.9 cm, 4.5 cm) were obtained. A similar trend was also obtained concerning the number of fruits per plant. An increase in yield per plant was also observed when using EM1 plus (TRCF) (95.5 kg/plant), or when reducing the (TRCF) to 50%, and the (EMC) was doubled (97.52 kg/: plant). While using EM1 (EMPS + EMC) only 87.9 kg/ plant) was obtained which was significant within the same rank.
Generally, EM resulted in an improvement in fruit quality. The higher total soluble solids and acid content in fruits was obtained when the plants received the EM1 alone without any chemical fertilizers (14,5%, 0.221%) respectively for TSS and acidity, on the other hand, using (TRCF) without EM gave significantly lower TSS, acidity values (11,25%, 0.151%).
More extended studies are now conducted to validate the effect of EM1 on the papaya plants and the soil physical, chemical and biological properties. But out preliminary study showed that commercial organic papaya productionusing EM1 could be possible.