Tomato Power-Up Quiz Quiz

Boost your understanding of tomato nutrient management with realistic scenarios on fertilization, deficiency, and best practices. Assess your grasp of key concepts essential for thriving tomato crops.

1. Essential Macronutrient

   Which nutrient is primarily responsible for promoting fruit development and overall tomato yield in horticultural production?

   1. Magnesium
   2. Calcium
   3. Potassium
   4. Sulfur

   Explanation: Potassium plays a crucial role in fruit development and yield by regulating water balance and enzyme activation in tomatoes. While calcium helps prevent blossom end rot, magnesium aids chlorophyll formation, and sulfur is vital for some amino acids, none are as directly related to fruit size and yield as potassium.

2. Deficiency Symptoms

   A tomato plant displays yellowing between the veins of older leaves while new leaves remain green. Which deficiency is most likely responsible?

   1. Zinc
   2. Copper
   3. Boron
   4. Magnesium

   Explanation: Magnesium deficiency typically causes interveinal chlorosis in older leaves as magnesium is mobile in the plant. Zinc deficiency usually manifests on younger leaves, boron affects growing points, and copper deficiencies rarely show in this pattern.

3. Fertilizer Application Timing

   To maximize nutrient use efficiency and minimize losses, when is the best time to apply nitrogen fertilizer to tomato crops?

   1. All at transplanting
   2. Only after first fruit set
   3. Just before flowering only
   4. In split doses during growth

   Explanation: Applying nitrogen in split doses throughout the growing season matches supply with plant demand and prevents leaching. Applying all at transplanting or just before flowering can either cause early excess or late deficiencies; applying only after fruit set is too late for vegetative growth needs.

4. Soil pH Importance

   At what soil pH range are nutrients most available for tomatoes to absorb efficiently?

   1. 4.5–5.5
   2. 5.0–5.8
   3. 6.0–6.8
   4. 7.5–8.0

   Explanation: A pH range of 6.0–6.8 is optimal for tomato nutrient uptake, ensuring micronutrient and macronutrient availability. Lower pH ranges (4.5–5.8) can lead to toxicities or deficiencies, while higher pH (7.5–8.0) can lock out key nutrients.

5. Blossom End Rot Cause

   A tomato grower notices dark, sunken patches at the blossom end of the fruit. Which nutrient imbalance is most likely the cause?

   1. Nitrogen toxicity
   2. Potassium excess
   3. Phosphorus surplus
   4. Calcium deficiency

   Explanation: Blossom end rot is classically linked to calcium deficiency, which disrupts cell wall integrity in tomato fruit. Potassium excess, nitrogen toxicity, and phosphorus surplus do not typically cause this symptom.