ET-Based Irrigation Scheduling for Papaya (Carica papaya) in Florida

Papaya (Carica papaya) is an important fruit crop grown in south Florida with an estimated area of 356 acres (Crane 2018). Miami-Dade County accounts for almost 81% of papaya production in Florida. The estimated papaya production value is $1.9 million based on an average yield of 29,000 pounds per acre, 85% pack-out rate, and $0.40 per pound price value. Typical cultural practices and pest and disease management guidelines for papaya can be found in Crane and Mossler (2008). Three irrigation scheduling methods (set schedule, ET-based, and tensiometer-based) were tested for papaya production in south Florida. ET-based irrigation scheduling was found to conserve water effectively. This document primarily focuses on the ET-based irrigation scheduling techniques for papaya under Florida conditions.