What was it all about?

In 2021, this short project reviewed existing scientific evidence for the nutrient requirements of papaya in commercial production (especially nitrogen and phosphorus), in support of sustainable Australian production and to identify knowledge gaps which may require further research.

The team conducted a broad search of scientific literature on the nutrient requirements of papaya in commercial production, with a subsequent review and analysis of the literature outcomes.

This highlighted that papaya has a tremendous yield potential. Based upon published trial data at plant densities of approximately 1,600 plants per hectare, total fruit yields of 128 tonnes/ha from a two-year crop cycle are not uncommon.

The literature review findings showed no one single scientific and commercially accepted protocol for nitrogen crop status measurement and management in Australian papayas. It also found that the role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal interactions with papaya roots in relation to phosphorus nutrition may require further research to clarify its role in the commercial management of papaya phosphorus nutrition.

Basic nutrient budgets were developed for nitrogen and phosphorus in papaya which showed, like most cropping systems in Australia, there were some nitrogen and significant phosphorous levels that were unaccounted for remaining at the end of a 21-24 month papaya cropping cycle.

A fact sheet describing findings of the literature review and the nutrient budgets was developed to communicate project outcomes.

ACT NOW

Read more about the project team’s findings in this fact sheet.