Response of boron and zinc on growth, yield and quality of papaya cv. Red Lady

The current study was carried out in Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya Pundibari, West Bengal, in 2021-2022 to evaluate the response of micronutrients on papaya performance.The treatments were different concentrations of zinc and boron (T 1 -distilled water sprayed; T 2 -Borax 0.25%; T 3 -Borax 0.5%; T 4 -Zinc sulphate 0.25%; T 5 -Zinc sulphate 0.5%; T 6 -Borax 0.25% + Zinc sulphate 0.25%; T 7 -Borax 0.25% + Zinc sulphate 0.5% ; T 8 -Borax 0.5% + Zinc sulphate 0.25% and T 9 Borax 0.5% + Zinc 0.5%) with three replications.The findings showed that Borax 0.5% + Zinc sulphate 0.25% had the highest plant height at first flowering (93.17 cm) and at first harvesting (184.08 cm); plant girth at first flowering (18.58 cm) and at first harvesting (37.75 cm); plant spread E-W and N-S spread at first flowering (105.00 and 107.50 cm) and at first harvesting (199.92cm and 202.75 cm) with maximum fruit yield of 25.47 kg.The treatment Borax 0.5% + Zinc sulphate 0.5% resulted inhighest total leaf count per plant at first flowering (32.50) and total soluble solids (12.83 o B) with lowest acidity (0.140%).