MINERAL NUTRIENT CONTENT, GROWTH, AND YIELD OF PAPAYA (CARICA-PAPAYA L) AS INFLUENCED BY TRENCH DEPTH AND MUNICIPAL SOLID-WASTE COMPOST

Papaya (Carica papaya L. cv. Cariflora) plants were cultivated in sout h Florida in soil trenched at different depths (0, 12.7, 25.4, or 38.1 cm) and amended with municipal solid waste (MSW) compost at rates of 0 (control), 75, or 150 t ha(-1). There was a positive linear relation ship between trench depth and plant height six months after transplant ing. Plant height was not affected by MSW application rate. Root depth increased as trench depth increased, but trench depth had no effect o n root radial length or root volume. Root growth was not affected by M SW rate. Leaf petiole concentrations of Mg and Ni were greater for pla nts in 38.1-cm trenches than for plants in the non-trenched plots. Con centrations of most nutrients in the leaf petiole were not significant ly affected by MSW rate. Total fruit number or weight was not affected by trench depth. There was a positive linear correlation between MSW rate and the number of fruits per plant. This study indicates that tre nching calcareous soil for papaya production is not advantageous becau se of the lack of significant growth and yield responses. However, ame nding calcareous soil with MSW compost can improve papaya yield with l ittle change in leaf nutrient concentrations.