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Revista Brasileira de Sementes
Print version ISSN 0101-3122
MEIRELES, Robson Celestino et al. Influence of the water and potassium in the quality of papaya seeds. Rev. bras. sementes [online]. 2008, vol.30, n.3, pp. 159-163. ISSN 0101-3122. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0101-31222008000300021.
The purpose of this work is to verify the effect of potassium fertilizing and the different irrigation levels on the germination and vigor of papaya tree seeds. To do so, it was used seeds coming from hermaphrodites fruits of the papaya tree, belonging to the group of Solo (cv. Golden), harvested during the stage two of maturing, in Santa Terezinha Farm, which belongs to Caliman Agrícola, localized in Linhares-ES. After harvesting, fruits were stored over eight days, in an open and aerated place. The treatments were constituted by five irrigation levels, equivalent to 70, 90, 110, 130 and 150% of the reference evapotranspiration and four doses of potassium (30, 42, 54, and 66g/plant), applied monthly, until the end of the experiment. The spacing used was, respectively, 3,6 meters and 2 meters for double-rows and single-rows, and the plants distance in the rows was 1,8 meters. The assessed characteristics were germination and vigor, which was determined by germination test first count and by seedling classification. The experimental design was completely randomized, having the data been submitted to variance and regression analysis. From the obtained results, it was possible to conclude that the 35g of potassium dose associated to irrigation, equivalent to 70% of evapotranspiration increased germination percentage, and that the suitable combination of potassium dose and irrigation levels contributed significantly to the increase of papaya tree seeds vigor.
Keywords : nutrient; germination; vigor.