Effect of Recommended dose of Fertilizer, Vermicompost and Zinc on Physico-chemical Properties of Soil, Growth and Yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) var. Supper Green
Bidisha Chowdhury
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Naini Agricultural Institute (NAI), Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, 211 007, U.P., India.
Narendra Swaroop
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Naini Agricultural Institute (NAI), Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, 211 007, U.P., India.
Tarence Thomas
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Naini Agricultural Institute (NAI), Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, 211 007, U.P., India.
Kamlendra Kumar *
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Naini Agricultural Institute (NAI), Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, 211 007, U.P., India.
Ashima Thomas
Department of Agro-Food Sciences and Technology, University of Bologna, Italy.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The experiment's goal was to demonstrate how zinc and vermicompost along with recommended dose of fertilizer effected the yield characteristics of okra and the health of the soil. Three levels of vermicompost at 0, 50, and 100% ha-1, N,P,K at 100% ha-1 and three levels of zinc at 0, 50, and 100% ha-1, respectively, were applied in the 3x3 RBD design. Vermicompost in combination produced a small decrease in soil pH 7.00 and negligible change in EC 0.19 dS m-1, decrease in bulk density 1.40 Mg m-1, increase in particle density 2.64 Mg m-1, according to treatment T9 (Vermicompost @ 100% + Zn @ 100%+ Recommended dose of fertilizer). Following fertilizer application, observations showed a significant increase in pore space (48.83%), water holding capacity (43.22%), organic carbon (0.52%), and available Phosphorous 24.67 kg ha-1, Potassium 182.86 kg ha-1, and Zn 0.53mg kg-1and T7 has highest at Nitrogen content with 292.33 kg h-1. Among other treatments for okra cultivation, nitrogen kg ha-1 phosphorus kg ha-1, potassium kg ha-1, and zinc mg kg-1 were also found to be significant. With regard to plant height of 120.70 cm, number of fruit plants-1 30.33, and fruit yield of 141.33 q ha-1, the maximum yield exhibited the best qualities. At 141.33q ha-1, it produced the highest yield. Applying zinc along with organic manures was also found to be a superior source of fertilization than using fertilizers alone.
Keywords: Okra, vermicompost, zinc, physico-chemical properties of soil, growth, yield