Variation in fruit traits of pawpaw under different rates of poultry manure

Abstract

Twelve pawpaw (Carica papaya L.) accessions were evaluated at Nsukka (Latitude 6°51′28″ N Longitude 7°23′44″ E at an elevation of 423 m above sea level), Nigeria, under three poultry manure (PM) rates (0, 5 and 10 t ha-1) in order to study the effect of the manure variation on fruit traits. The experiment was a split plot laid out in randomised complete block design replicated thrice. Main plot treatment was poultry manure rates and sub-plot treatment was the 12 accessions of pawpaw. Data on percent number of fruited plants, number of fruits harvested, true-to-type fruit pulp colour and fruit shape were collected. The effect of accession showed that Cnd-Cl-Ro significantly (p ≤ 0.05) produced the highest number of fruited plants (80.0%). Number of fruits harvested was highest in accessions Ijm-Cl-Ro and Ijm-Sp-Ly (6.8). Accession Ijm-Sp-Ly had highest fruits with similar pulp colour and fruit shape (53.3%) to the initial. Application of 10 t ha-1 of PM significantly produced the highest number of fruited plants (60.0%) and fruits harvested (4.4) but did not significantly affect true-to-type fruit pulp colour and shape.