Response of Organic and Inorganic Sources of Nutrients on Growth and Yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) in Bihar, India

Aims: To assess the effect of integrated and sole applications of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth, yield and yield attributes of okra in okra- cabbage-bottle gourd crop sequence.

Study Design: The experiment consists of seven treatments viz.,T1-100%NPK through inorganic fertilizers (IFs) 120, 60 and 40 Kg N, P2O5 and K2O); T2-50%NPK through IFs+50%N through farm yard manure (FYM); T3-50% N through FYM+50% N through vermicompost (VC); T4-1/3 of N each through FYM + VC + neem cake (NC); T5-50% N through FYM + PSB + azotobactor; T6-50% N through FYM+50% N through VC+PSB + azotobactor and T7-1/3 of N each through FYM + VC + NC +PSB + azotobactor. These seven treatments were replicated thrice in Randomized Block Design. Recommended agronomical package of practices were followed excluding fertilizers and manures.

Place and Duration of Study: This experiment was conducted at Nalanda College of Horticulture, Noorsarai, Nalanda (25.269606 °N, 85.457869 °E) Bihar India, during Kharif 2016 and 2017.

Results: Results revealed that T1-100%NPK through inorganic fertilizers (IFs) recorded significantly highest plant height (51.45cm, 128.35 cm, and 165.25 cm) at 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing respectively, over rest of the treatments, but found at par with T6-50% N as FYM + 50% N as VC + PSB + azotobactor at 60 and 90 DAS. Number of fruits per plant and yield also differed significantly due to different treatments. T1-100%NPK through inorganic fertilizers (IFs) recorded significantly more number of fruits over T5, T6 and T7, but found at parwith T2 T3 and T4. T1-100%NPK through inorganic fertilizers (IFs) recorded significantly higher yield over rest of the treatment but was at par with T2-50% NPK through IFs + 50 % N through FYM.

Conclusion: On the basis of this two years experimental finding, it has been concluded that the best strategy for producing okra in a sustainable manner is integrated use of inorganic fertilizers and manures as T2 (50% NPK through IFs and 50% nitrogen through FYM).