Real practices for papaya production of farmers in northeast Thailand

Semi-structured interviews associated with field survey techniques were operated to investigate farmer's methodologies with regard to the management of papaya production, particularly in Northeast Thailand. It was found by the intensive interviews and high detail surveys that there were six favorite varieties of the papaya grown in the Northeast, i.e. Khaeknual (56.6 percent), local variety (13.6 percent), Khaekdum Thaphra (5.6 percent), Khaekdum (3.7 percent), Dumnern (1.8 percent), and Cocoa (1.8 percent), respectively. Generally, soil conditions that supported high productivity found were Loam or Sandy Loam (54.7 percent), Clay Loam or Clay (34.0 percent), and sandy soils or coarse textured soils (11.3 percent), respectively. Small-scaled papaya productions were mostly found on small land areas next to farmer's houses and farm huts or sometimes found in inter-cropping system with other orchards as eatable vegetables. However, large-scaled papaya farms were found on upland areas preferably next to forestlands and grown as the major source of incomes of the farmers. Most successful farmers preferred applying chemical fertilizers with grades 15-15-15, 15-15-8, and 13-13-21 and application rates of 40-50 kg/rai twice a month. In the cases of coarse textured soils or Loamy Sand, a supplementary element (Boron, B) was generally also applied 1 kg of commercial compound (Boronex) per 40-50 kg of chemical fertilizer. Nevertheless, chicken manure mixed with rice husk was also applied as organic fertilizer for maintaining physical properties of soil at the rate of 4-10 kg/plant. Mixing both chemical and organic fertilizers and then broadcasting under shading area of each plant before irrigation were normally carried out to apply fertilizers. Fallowing up the land area with planting distance of 2*2 square m and sprinkle irrigation were favorite in papaya cultivation. Approximately ninety-eight percent of farmers did not use plastic sheet to cover their land for moisture conservation. It was also found at each harvesting period that papaya yield was averagely 1.5-2 tons/rai and maximum yield sometimes found at 3-3.5 tons/rai.