Organic compost as a conditioner of soils cultivated with yellow passion fruit

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the effect of doses of organic compost on the yield and economic profitability of organic yellow passion fruit grown in sandy-loam and clay-loam soils. Two experiments were installed in the field, in different soil types and municipalities in the state of Acre. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with five treatments, four replications, and four plants per experimental unit. The treatments consisted of adding the compost as a replacement for 1/3 of the volume of cylindrical planting holes with 40 cm, 80 cm, 120 cm, 160 cm, and 200 cm, corresponding to the addition of 6.3; 25.1; 56.5; 100.4, and 156.9 liters per planting hole, respectively. The mean fruit mass and the yield of the yellow passion fruit were higher in sandy-loam soil. The total revenue was R$ 4,311.6 ha-1 in the clayey soil and R$ 5,841.9 ha-1 in the sandy soil. The total cost was higher in the clayey soil than in sandy soil. Both soils responded in quadratic function with an increase in the cost as the volume of organic compost was increased, ranging from R$ 12,736.00 ha-1 with 6.3 liters of compost per hole up to R$ 26,249.63 ha-1 with 156.9 liters of compost per hole. Net income was negative for all compost volumes in both types of soil, responding linearly, with a reduction in revenue of R$ 80.82 ha-1 with the addition of each liter of compost in the pit due to the low yield caused by period long drought.