Growing profits: Enhancing okra yield with biochar and bacterial treatment in the sandy loam soils of India

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of biochar amendment and seed treatment with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on the yield and economics of okra in the sandy loam soil of Kerala, India. The experiment was laid out in randomised block design with eight treatments and three replications. The treatments were T1 (Farm yard manure (FYM) 20 t ha-1 + 100% recommended doses of nutrients (RDN)), T2 (5 t ha-1 tender coconut husk biochar + 5 t ha-1 FYM + 100% RDN), T3 (T1 + Seed treatment with Bacillus pumilus VLY 17), T4 (T1 + Seed treatment with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens VLY 24), T5 (T1 + Seed treatment with Bacillus velezensis PCSE 10), T6 (T2 + Seed treatment with Bacillus pumilus VLY 17), T7 (T2 + Seed treatment with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens VLY 24), and T8 (T2 + Seed treatment with Bacillus velezensis PCSE 10). The results revealed that T7 produced significantly higher yield per hectare (14.09 t ha-1) and the highest benefit cost ratio (1.682), while the number of fruits per plant was higher in T8 (30.00), which was comparable with T7 (29.00). The present study revealed that the yield and profitability enhancement in okra in the sandy loam soils of Kerala can be achieved through seed treatment of okra with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens VLY 24, along with soil application of biochar @ 5 t ha-1 along with FYM @ 5 t ha-1 and the recommended full dose of fertilisers at 110:35:70 kg NPK ha-1.