Challenge your understanding of castor crop management with medium-difficulty questions about soil, pests, irrigation, and best practices for healthy yields.
Which type of soil is most suitable for cultivating castor to achieve optimal growth and yield?
Explanation: Well-drained sandy loam soils offer good aeration and moderate water retention, which are important for castor crops. Heavy clay can retain excess water, leading to root diseases. Saline alkali soils can hinder nutrient uptake. Poorly drained peat soils often create overly wet conditions unsuitable for castor.
What is the most common pest affecting castor plants, particularly during the early growth stage?
Explanation: Jassids often attack castor during the early stages, causing leaf curl and stunted growth. Aphids are less common in castor, red spider mites appear mainly during dry seasons, and cutworms primarily harm seedlings by cutting stems at ground level.
In most regions of India, what is the recommended time of sowing castor seeds to maximize yield and minimize pest incidence?
Explanation: Sowing castor in July-August coincides with the onset of rains, ensuring proper germination and growth. October-November is too late and risks poor establishment; May-June may expose seedlings to high temperatures, and January-February is outside the typical cropping season.
For a healthy castor crop, which nutrient application is most critical during the vegetative stage?
Explanation: Nitrogen is crucial for vegetative growth, promoting leaf development and vigor in castor. Potassium and sulphur are important for overall plant health and oil content, but less essential at this stage. Zinc is needed in small amounts and rarely limits vegetative growth.
What is a key irrigation recommendation for castor, considering its drought tolerance?
Explanation: Castor is drought tolerant but benefits from light, well-timed irrigations during crucial stages like flowering and capsule filling. Daily irrigation is excessive and wasteful. Heavy weekly irrigation can cause root rot, while no irrigation after sowing may reduce yield in dry conditions.