Study of water and nutrients requirement through drip irrigation in Okra

Abstract

Precise estimation of water and nutrients requirement on a daily basis is important to apply water and fertilizers through drip irrigation system. A experiment was conducted to determine the optimum crop water and fertilizer requirement of okra at different stages of crop growth using drip irrigation in comparison to conventional method of irrigation at experimental field of Precision Farming Development Center, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand. The effect of fertigation was also studied on Okra yield and quality compared to conventional method of irrigation. The highest yield of Okra was found to be at drip irrigation at 0.8 ET + 80% of Recommended Doses of Fertilizers for Okra in comparison to other treatments including conventional method of irrigation (Furrow) and fertilizer application (Basal). The yield was found to be average 13 t/ha which is higher than 10.6 t/ha, which was found for conventional method. The cultivation of suitable variety of Okra (Saarika) through drip irrigation with fertigation through water soluble fertilizer. This system increases the productivity and quality of produce with added benefit of water saving and higher fertilizer use efficiency