Explore common growth problems seen in chickpea farming and assess your understanding of factors affecting their health and yield.
A chickpea field shows stunted plants with yellowing leaves, and roots appear soft and brown—what common issue does this indicate?
Explanation: Root rot typically presents as brown, soft roots with aboveground symptoms like stunted growth and yellowing. Fusarium wilt primarily causes vascular discoloration but not soft roots. Powdery mildew affects leaves, showing white powdery spots. Leaf miner attacks result in visible trails on leaves, not root damage.
If chickpea plants have pale green leaves and poor growth despite good moisture, which factor is most likely responsible for poor nodulation?
Explanation: Rhizobium bacteria are vital for nitrogen-fixing nodules; without proper inoculation, growth suffers and leaves can turn pale. Soil salinity and heavy rain cause other stress symptoms. Excess phosphorus seldom directly affects nodulation compared to a lack of rhizobium.
During a humid spell, a farmer notices dark lesions on chickpea stems and leaves with some plant wilting. Which disease is most likely present?
Explanation: Ascochyta blight is known for causing dark lesions on stems and leaves and can lead to plant wilting. Botrytis gray mold creates a grayish, fuzzy growth on tissues. Downy mildew causes yellow patches mostly on leaves. Chlorosis is general yellowing, not lesions.
What is a likely consequence of consistently waterlogged soil in chickpea cultivation?
Explanation: Waterlogged soil promotes root diseases due to lack of oxygen and higher fungal activity. It does not encourage flowering or pod filling, and it actually decreases drought resistance as roots become weak or rot.
A chickpea crop shows interveinal chlorosis (yellowing between leaf veins) but green veins remain. What deficiency does this pattern most commonly suggest?
Explanation: Magnesium deficiency typically results in interveinal chlorosis with green veins as magnesium is mobile in plants. Nitrogen deficiency causes uniform yellowing, not limited to interveinal areas. Potassium deficiency commonly leads to yellowing leaf edges. Calcium deficiency results in new leaf deformities rather than this pattern.