Explore essential knowledge on nutrient management strategies for healthy and productive papaya crops in horticulture. Learn about optimal fertilizer use, deficiency symptoms, and best practices for maximizing yield and fruit quality.
Which primary nutrient is most commonly associated with promoting vigorous vegetative growth and large leaves in papaya plants?
Explanation: Nitrogen is crucial for vegetative growth and encourages lush leaf development in papayas. Phosphorus mainly supports root and flower development, potassium is more related to fruit quality and disease resistance, and calcium supports cell wall integrity but does not primarily drive leafy growth.
Yellowing of older leaves and poor fruit set in papaya are often symptoms of a deficiency in which nutrient?
Explanation: Potassium deficiency typically causes yellowing of older leaves and can lead to poor fruit development in papayas. Iron and zinc deficiencies usually cause chlorosis in young leaves, while magnesium deficiency causes interveinal chlorosis but less commonly impacts fruit set as directly as potassium.
When is it most beneficial to apply a split dose of fertilizers to papaya plants during their growth cycle?
Explanation: Applying fertilizers in split doses during early vegetative and pre-flowering stages supports ongoing nutrient demand and growth. Single application at transplanting does not match the crop's needs over time, papayas do not have a true dormant period, and applying right before harvest is too late to benefit growth or yield.
Which organic material is often recommended to improve soil structure and increase nutrient availability for papaya plants?
Explanation: Composted farmyard manure improves soil texture and adds nutrients suitable for papaya cultivation. Silica sand is inert and mainly used to improve drainage, pine needles are acidic and not nutrient-rich, while peat moss enhances moisture retention but supplies few nutrients.
Deficiency of which micronutrient can lead to malformed papaya fruits with misshapen skin and poor pulp quality?
Explanation: Boron deficiency in papaya can result in malformed fruits and decreased pulp quality due to its role in cell development. Copper and manganese deficiencies affect other plant functions such as enzyme activity and chlorophyll production, while sulfur is not classified as a micronutrient and is less related to fruit deformities.