Effect of organic manures and biofertilizers on growth, yield attributing characters and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) moench)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Horticultural Research Farm, S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner during Kharif season 2017. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with sixteen treatments, replicated thrice. The treatments include different organic manures (control, FYM @ 20 t ha-1, vermicompost @ 6 t ha-1 and poultry manure @ 8 t ha-1) with biofertilizers (control, Azospirillum, PSB and Azospirillum+ PSB). The present investigation revealed that among organic manures application of vermicompost @ 6 t ha-1 recorded the highest branches plant-1 (6.14), leaf area index (0.49), chlorophyll content of leaf (1.79), no. of fruit plant-1 (22.79), fruit length (13.95 cm), average fruit weight (16.19 g)and fruit yield ha-1 (141.48 q ha-1). Among different biofertilizers combined use of Azospirillum+ PSB recorded significantly higher growth parameters, yield attributing characters and yields. Due to superior fruit yield responses, vermicompost and Azospirillum+ PSB combined application could be a very attractive fertilizer alternative particularly for annual crops with short growth cycle such as okra.