Microclimate under the Cup of Papaya Planted in the North-South and East-West Directions

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the variations of environmental factors under the canopy of papaya planted in a north-south and east-west orientation. Two areas were studied, one oriented north-south and the other east-west, both planted with a spacing of 3.20 mx 2.40 m, planted in April 2015. The distances from the papaya line (levels of shading) and a place in full sun, where it was evaluated, in the North-South direction: in the papaya planting line, at 40 cm west side, 40 cm east side and in full sun; in the East-West direction: In the papaya planting line, at 40 cm on the north side, 40 cm on the south side and in the planting line in full sun. The following atmospheric variables were determined: temperature, irradiance and relative humidity. Tukey's test was used to compare means at a confidence level of 95%. Papaya planted in the east-west direction, under the conditions studied, provided lower incident irradiation, reduced temperature and higher values ​​of relative humidity under its canopy, compared to papaya planted in the north-south direction. It is possible to intercrop papaya planted in the east-west direction with other agricultural crops, including conilon coffee.