Manejo de riego en el cultivo de papaya (Carica papaya) en el Ecuador

Papaya cultivation is located in tropical and subtropical zones of Ecuador, with an estimated cultivated area of 2 942 hectares. With a greater surface in the provinces of Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Los Ríos, Guayas, Santa Elena and, on a smaller surface, the provinces of Manabí, El Oro, Sucumbíos, Orellana and Pastaza. The papaya needs abundant water to produce good harvests, partly because the continuous production depends on the continuous growth of the stem and the formation of new leaves, since the product is born in their armpit. A lack of water that affects growth momentarily can cause flower drop and reduce yields by up to 50%. Although water requires dependence on various factors such as temperature, light, wind, soil and age of plants, several authors suggest correcting a quantity of 1,500 to 2,000 mm, well distributed throughout the year. A papaya plantation requires a constant supply of water, mainly in the first eight months of development. In this regard, various studies indicate that the greatest demand for water from this fruit tree occurs in the flowering and fruiting stages and that under high temperature conditions, the water requirement per plant is between 10 and 15 Lt daily. It is concluded that the gravity irrigation system is a system that can be used in this crop, provided that the slope is not very high. This gravity irrigation system is suitable for crops where there is a lack of resources. Furrow construction can be manual, which helps low-budget crops.

Papaya cultivation is located in tropical and subtropical zones of Ecuador, with an estimated cultivated area of 2 942 hectares. With a greater surface in the provinces of Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Los Ríos, Guayas, Santa Elena and, on a smaller surface, the provinces of Manabí, El Oro, Sucumbíos, Orellana and Pastaza. The papaya needs abundant water to produce good harvests, partly because the continuous production depends on the continuous growth of the stem and the formation of new leaves, since the product is born in their armpit. A lack of water that affects growth momentarily can cause flower drop and reduce yields by up to 50%. Although water requires dependence on various factors such as temperature, light, wind, soil and age of plants, several authors suggest correcting a quantity of 1,500 to 2,000 mm, well distributed throughout the year. A papaya plantation requires a constant supply of water, mainly in the first eight months of development. In this regard, various studies indicate that the greatest demand for water from this fruit tree occurs in the flowering and fruiting stages and that under high temperature conditions, the water requirement per plant is between 10 and 15 Lt daily. It is concluded that the gravity irrigation system is a system that can be used in this crop, provided that the slope is not very high. This gravity irrigation system is suitable for crops where there is a lack of resources. Furrow construction can be manual, which helps low-budget crops.

El cultivo de papaya se localiza en zonas tropicales y sub tropicales del Ecuador, con una superficie cultivada estimada de 2 942 hectáreas. Con mayor superficie en las provincias de Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Los Ríos, Guayas, Santa Elena y, en menor superficie, las provincias de Manabí, El Oro, Sucumbíos, Orellana y Pastaza. El papayo necesita abundante agua para producir buenas cosechas, en parte porque la producción continua depende del crecimiento continuo del tallo y de la formación de nuevas hojas, ya que el fruto nace en la axila de ellas. Una falta de agua que afecte el crecimiento momentáneamente, puede ocasionar caída de flores y reducir los rendimientos hasta en un 50%. Aunque el agua requerida depende de varios factores como temperatura, luz, viento, suelo y edad de las plantas, varios autores dan como correcta una cantidad de 1.500 a 2.000 milímetros, bien distribuida durante el año. Una plantación de papayo requiere un suministro constante de agua, principalmente en los primeros ocho meses de desarrollo. Al respecto, diversos investigadores señalan que la mayor demanda de agua de este frutal ocurre en las etapas de floración y fructificación y que bajo condiciones de alta temperatura, el requerimiento hídrico por planta es entre 10 y 15 Lt diarios. Se llega a la conclusión que el sistema de riego de gravedad es un sistema que se puede utilizar en este cultivo, siempre que la pendiente no son muy elevada. Este sistema de riego por gravedad es conveniente para cultivos en los que existe carencia de recursos. La construcción de surcos puede ser manual, lo que ayuda a cultivos con bajo presupuesto.