Water management is considered one of the most prevalent factors in the production of quality seedlings in commercial crops. Despite the benefits provided, the technique is still little used by irrigating users, who, for the most part, do not adopt any criteria for water use. Thus, aiming at the rational use of water resources and increasing the productive potential of seedlings, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different irrigation depths on the production of Formosa “Mel” papaya seedlings ( Carica papaya L.). The experiment took place in a greenhouse, located at the Federal Institute of Espírito Santo, Campus Itapina, in Colatina, ES. The treatments consisted of six irrigation depths corresponding to 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 mm · day − 1 adjusted in a completely randomized design, with 25 plants per treatment. The variables evaluated were: plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, dry mass of the aerial part, dry mass of the root system, total dry mass and Dickson’s Quality index, 58 days after sowing in all experimental plots. At the end of the experiment, it was found that the 7.36 mm · d − 1 irrigation depth provided better quality, in addition to lower water consumption, being the most recommended for the production of Formosa “Mel” papaya seedlings.
Instituto Brasileiro De Geografia E Estatística IBGE (2020) Municipal Agricultural Production: Area Planted or Destined for Harvest, Area Harvested, Quantity Produced, Average Yield and Value of Production of Temporary and Permanent Crops. http://www.sidra.ibge.gov.br
Weckner, F.C., Campos, M.C.C., Nascimento, E.P., Mantovanelli, B.C. and Nascimento, M.F. (2016) Evaluation of Papaya Seedlings under the Effect of Applying Different Compositions of Biofertilizers. Revista da Universidade Vale do Rio Verde, 14, 700-706. https://doi.org/10.5892/ruvrd.v14i1.2539
Silva, C.J., Silva, C.A., Freitas, C.A., Golynski, A. and Golynski, A.A. (2015) Production and Growth of Baruzeiro Seedlings as a Function of Containers and Irrigation Depths. Irriga, 20, 652-666. https://doi.org/10.15809/irriga.2015v20n4p652
Gruber, Y.B.G. (2006) Otimização da lamina de irrigação na produção de mudas clonais de eucalipto (Eucalyptus urophylla x Eucalyptus grandis e Eucalyptus urophylla var. plathyphylla) Dissertação (Mestrado em Irrigação e Drenagem)—Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba.
Sá, N.S.A., Pereira, G.M., Alvarenga, M.A.R., Mattioli, W. and Carvalho, J.A. (2005) Behavior of Tomato Crop under Different Soil Water Tensions in a Greenhouse. Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental, 9, 341-347. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1415-43662005000300008
Silva, C.A., Dourado Neto, D., Silva, C.J. and Melo, B. (2015) Development of Surinam Cherry Seedlings as a Function of Irrigation Depths in Two Container Sizes. Irriga, 20, 638-651.
Gonçalves, M.S., Ribeiro, W.R, Pinheiro, A.A, Martins, C.A., Cóser, A., Reis, E.F. and Garcia, G.O. (2018) Productive Aspects of Tropical Grasses under Different Soil Water Stresses. Journal of Experimental Agriculture International, 23, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.9734/JEAI/2018/41808
Santos, G.O., Déa, T.K.G., Abreu, L.D., Cabral, R.F., Thiesen, A.C.O., Carvalho, R. and Diniz, R.G. (2019) Irrigated Agriculture Management: Technical Instructions to Vegetable Growers—Open Market Vendors. Revista Conexão UEPG, 15, 193-198. https://doi.org/10.5212/Rev.Conexao.v.15.i2.0010
Ribeiro, W.R., Pinheiro, A.A., Ferreira, D.S., Gonçalves, M.S., Aparecida, C. and Reis, E.F. (2018) Water Deficit as a Limiting Factor to the Initial Growth of Coffee Conilon Variety Diamante. Journal of Experimental Agriculture International, 22, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.9734/JEAI/2018/41156
Oliveira, V.S., Posse, R.P., Pinheiro, A.P.B., Costa, G.S., Malikouski, R.G., Morais, A.L. and Schmildt, E.R. (2018) Effect of Irrigation Depths on the Growth of Papaya Seedlings. Journal of Experimental Agriculture International, 29, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.9734/JEAI/2019/45917
Posse, R.P., Valani, F., Oliveira, V.S., Kirmse, R., Partelli, R.L., Pancieri, G.S. and Costa, G.S. (2019) Growth and Quality of Papaya “Tainung 01” Seedlings Submitted to Different Irrigation Depths. Journal of Experimental Agriculture International, 30, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.9734/JEAI/2019/46331
Posse, R.P., Valani, F., Oliveira, V.S., Silva, L.M., Silveira, S.S., Silva, S.M.F. and Costa, G.S. (2019) Growth and Quality of Papaya “Golden THB” Seedlings Cultivated under Different Irrigation Depths. Journal of Experimental Agriculture International, 29, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.9734/JEAI/2019/46286
Cavalcante, A.C.R., Cavallini, M.C. and Lima, N.R.C.B. (2009) Stress Due to Water Deficit in Forage Plants. Documentos 89. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária. Sobral-CE, 47 p.
Alvares, C.A., Stape, J.L, Sentelhas, P.C., Gonçalves, J.L.M. and Sparovek, G. (2014) Köppen’s Climate Classification Map for Brazil. Meteorologische Zeitschrift, 22, 711-728. https://doi.org/10.1127/0941-2948/2013/0507
Dickson, A., Leaf, A.L. and Hosner, J.F. (1960) Quality Appraisal of White Spruce and White Pine Seedling Stock in Nurseries. Forest Chronicles, 36, 10-13. https://doi.org/10.5558/tfc36010-1
R Core Team (2020) R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna.
Taiz, L., Zeiger, E., Moller, I.M. and Murphy, A. (2017) Plant Physiology and Development. 6th Edition, Artmed, Porto Alegre, 858 p.
Silva, M.A.V., Nogueira, R.J.M.C., Oliveira, A.F. and Santos, V.F. (2008) Stomatal Responses and Dry Matter Yield in Young Aroeira Plants Submitted to Different Water Levels. Revista árvore, 32, 335-344. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-67622008000200016
Padilha, N.S., Silva, C.J., Pereira, S.B., Silva, J.A.N., Heid, D.M., Bottega, S.P. and Scalon, S.P.Q. (2016) Initial Growth of Physic Nut Submitted to Different Water Regimes in Dystrophic Haplustox. Ciência Florestal, 26, 513-521. https://doi.org/10.5902/1980509822752
Posse, R.P., Partelli, R.L., Oliveira, V.S., Trindade, I.M., Silveira, S.S., Silva, S.M.F.S., Posse, S.C.P., Souza, C.A.S., Schmildt, O. and Schmildt, E.R. (2019) Morphological Analysis of Cacao Seedlings Cultivar CCN51 under Different Irrigation Depths. International Journal of Development Research, 9, 29211-29215.
Trindade, A.V. (2000) Papaya, Production: Technical Aspects. Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura, Brasília, Comunicado para transferência de tecnologia, 77 p.
Taiz, L. and Zeiger, E. (2009) Plant Physiology. 4th Edition, Artmed, Porto Alegre, 819 p.
Melo, A.S., Costa, C.X., Brito, M.E.B., Viégas, P.R.A. and Silva Júnior, C.D. (2007) Production of Papaya Seedlings in Different Substrates and Phosphorus Levels. Revista Brasileira de Ciências Agrárias, 2, 257-261. https://doi.org/10.5039/agraria.v2i4a1838
Fonseca, E.P., Valéri, S.V., Miglioranza, é., Fonseca, N.A.N. and Couto, L. (2002) Target Seedlings of Trema micrantha (L.) Blume Grown under Different Periods of Shading. Revista árvore, 26, 515-523. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-67622002000400015
Silva, A.K., Costa, E., Santos, E.L.L., Benett, K.S.S. and Benett, C.G.S. (2013) Production of Papaya Seedlings under Thermal Reflector Screen and Substrates. Revista Brasileira de Ciências Agrárias, 8, 42-48. https://doi.org/10.5039/agraria.v8i1a1996
Gomes, J.M., Couto, L., Leite, H.G., Xavier, A. and Garcia, S.L.R. (2003) Growth of Eucalyptus grandis Seedlings Produced in Different Sized Tubes and N-P-K’ Fertilization. Revista árvore, 27, 113-127. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-67622003000200001