Effect of Foliar Spray of Boron and Zinc on Growth and Yield of Papaya ( Carica papaya L.) cv. Red Lady in Chitwan, Nepal

A field experiment was carried out at commercial papaya farm, Chanauli, Chitwan, from January to December 2016 to find out the effect of foliar spray of boron and zinc on growth and yield ( Carica papaya L.) cv. Red Lady. The experiment consisted eleven treatments viz., "T1-Control (No spray), T2-Water Spray, T3-Borax at 0.1 % and ZnSO 4 at 0.1 %, T4-Borax at 0.1 % and ZnSO 4 at 0.2 %, T5-Borax at 0.1 % and ZnSO 4 at 0.3 %, T6-Borax at 0.2 % and ZnSO 4 at 0.1 %, T7-Borax at 0.2 % and ZnSO 4 at 0.2 %, T8-Borax at 0.2 % and ZnSO 4 at 0.3 %, T9-Borax at 0.3 % and ZnSO 4 at 0.1 %, T10-Borax at 0.3 % and ZnSO 4 at 0.2 % and T11-Borax at 0.3 % and ZnSO 4 at 0.3 %." The results revealed significantly higher growth parameters as plant height, number of leaves per plant, petiole length, leaf area, and stem girth with the foliar application of borax at 0.3 %, and ZnSO 4 at 0.2 %. Similarly, significantly lower values regarding the days for flowering (112.80 days), days for fruit set (123.60 days), and days to harvest (250.30 days) were observed with the application of the same treatment. Significantly higher results of yield parameters such as number of flowers per plant (75.33), number of fruits per plant (48.83), fruit weight (1352.00 g), fruit length (26.47 cm), fruit girth (36.79 cm), and pulp weight (1222.00 g/fruit), and yield (50.33 Kg/plant and 139.80 mt/ha) were recorded with the foliar application of borax @ 0.3 % and ZnSO 4 @ 0.2 %.