Utilising Reclaimed Water for Papaya (<i>Carica papaya</i> L.) Cultivation in Cape Verde: A Detailed Case Study
Papaya (<i>Carica papaya</i> L.) is essential for food security, providing economic benefits in tropical and subtropical regions. However, its high water requirements pose challenges, especially in water-scarce areas like Cape Verde. This study hypothesises that reclaimed water (RW) irri...
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2024-11-01
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| author | Vanessa Mendoza-Grimón Regla Amorós Juan Ramón Fernández-Vera Ernestina Lopes da Veiga Maria del Pino Palacios-Díaz |
| author_facet | Vanessa Mendoza-Grimón Regla Amorós Juan Ramón Fernández-Vera Ernestina Lopes da Veiga Maria del Pino Palacios-Díaz |
| author_sort | Vanessa Mendoza-Grimón |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Papaya (<i>Carica papaya</i> L.) is essential for food security, providing economic benefits in tropical and subtropical regions. However, its high water requirements pose challenges, especially in water-scarce areas like Cape Verde. This study hypothesises that reclaimed water (RW) irrigation can promote papaya production and investigates how water can be managed to ensure sustainability and increase agricultural productivity. An experiment was conducted using <i>Carica papaya</i> L. var Solo-nº8, focusing on subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) with RW. Three irrigation treatments were compared, namely, T1: RW with SDI; T2: RW with drip irrigation (DI); and T3: conventional water (CW) with SDI. The study evaluated crop yields and water use efficiency (WUE) over 13 months, monitoring soil and water quality and papaya growth and yields. Despite quality concerns, RW maintained soil fertility and ensured sustainable reuse. Papaya demonstrated high adaptability and productivity under experimental conditions. T1 significantly increased the cumulative fruit yield (69 t/ha) compared to T2 (65 t/ha) and T3 (62.7 t/ha). T1 also had the highest WUE (5.97 kg/m<sup>3</sup>), demonstrating the effectiveness of RW and SDI in optimising water use. The results indicate that RW can be a viable alternative to conventional water sources, providing new insights into sustainable agricultural practices and improving food security in arid and semi-arid regions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8d4e511df3a3409984db68cd28f019c0 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj-art-8d4e511df3a3409984db68cd28f019c02025-08-20T02:26:52ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952024-11-011411272610.3390/agronomy14112726Utilising Reclaimed Water for Papaya (<i>Carica papaya</i> L.) Cultivation in Cape Verde: A Detailed Case StudyVanessa Mendoza-Grimón0Regla Amorós1Juan Ramón Fernández-Vera2Ernestina Lopes da Veiga3Maria del Pino Palacios-Díaz4Instituto de Investigación IUNAT, Grupo GEOVOL, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35001 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, SpainInstituto Nacional de Investigação e Desenvolvimento Agrário (INIDA), São Jorge dos Orgaos 84, Cape VerdeLaboratorio Agroalimentario y Fitopatológico del Cabildo de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, SpainMinisterio de Agricultura y Ambiente de Cabo Verde, R. António Mena, CP.115, Praia 7600, Cape VerdeInstituto Nacional de Investigação e Desenvolvimento Agrário (INIDA), São Jorge dos Orgaos 84, Cape VerdePapaya (<i>Carica papaya</i> L.) is essential for food security, providing economic benefits in tropical and subtropical regions. However, its high water requirements pose challenges, especially in water-scarce areas like Cape Verde. This study hypothesises that reclaimed water (RW) irrigation can promote papaya production and investigates how water can be managed to ensure sustainability and increase agricultural productivity. An experiment was conducted using <i>Carica papaya</i> L. var Solo-nº8, focusing on subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) with RW. Three irrigation treatments were compared, namely, T1: RW with SDI; T2: RW with drip irrigation (DI); and T3: conventional water (CW) with SDI. The study evaluated crop yields and water use efficiency (WUE) over 13 months, monitoring soil and water quality and papaya growth and yields. Despite quality concerns, RW maintained soil fertility and ensured sustainable reuse. Papaya demonstrated high adaptability and productivity under experimental conditions. T1 significantly increased the cumulative fruit yield (69 t/ha) compared to T2 (65 t/ha) and T3 (62.7 t/ha). T1 also had the highest WUE (5.97 kg/m<sup>3</sup>), demonstrating the effectiveness of RW and SDI in optimising water use. The results indicate that RW can be a viable alternative to conventional water sources, providing new insights into sustainable agricultural practices and improving food security in arid and semi-arid regions.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/11/2726water managementyieldsubsurface drip irrigationsustainable food productionwater use efficiencyrecycled water |
| spellingShingle | Vanessa Mendoza-Grimón Regla Amorós Juan Ramón Fernández-Vera Ernestina Lopes da Veiga Maria del Pino Palacios-Díaz Utilising Reclaimed Water for Papaya (<i>Carica papaya</i> L.) Cultivation in Cape Verde: A Detailed Case Study Agronomy water management yield subsurface drip irrigation sustainable food production water use efficiency recycled water |
| title | Utilising Reclaimed Water for Papaya (<i>Carica papaya</i> L.) Cultivation in Cape Verde: A Detailed Case Study |
| title_full | Utilising Reclaimed Water for Papaya (<i>Carica papaya</i> L.) Cultivation in Cape Verde: A Detailed Case Study |
| title_fullStr | Utilising Reclaimed Water for Papaya (<i>Carica papaya</i> L.) Cultivation in Cape Verde: A Detailed Case Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Utilising Reclaimed Water for Papaya (<i>Carica papaya</i> L.) Cultivation in Cape Verde: A Detailed Case Study |
| title_short | Utilising Reclaimed Water for Papaya (<i>Carica papaya</i> L.) Cultivation in Cape Verde: A Detailed Case Study |
| title_sort | utilising reclaimed water for papaya i carica papaya i l cultivation in cape verde a detailed case study |
| topic | water management yield subsurface drip irrigation sustainable food production water use efficiency recycled water |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/11/2726 |
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