A comprehensive review of spacing and fertilizer effects on okra

Abstract

Okra, also called lady’s finger, bhendi, or bhindi, is grown for its tender green pods and can be cultivated in both the kharif and summer seasons. It is well adjustable to diverse environmental conditions having many uses and benefits as well. Besides environmental factors, plant spacing and fertilizer application significantly affect the growth, quality and yield of okra. Spacing either reduces the plant population on hectare basis or results in excess numbers of plants, which makes the farm operations difficult. Both cases direct to yield penalty and loss to the growers. In addition, applying higher doses of fertilizer typically enhances vegetative growth and yield by supporting plant growth, root development, seed formation and stress resistance, all of which influence physiological processes. In contrast, lower fertilizer doses have been found to encourage early flowering in some studies. As India is the largest producer of okra in the world, understanding how these two factors interact is crucial for creating effective strategies to optimize okra production.