Abelmoschus esculents

Abstract

A fieId experiment was con d u c t e d at the De par t men t 0 f Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani to find out the effect of dual application of phosphate sources and microbial inoculants on the quality of compost and to standardize an organic nutrient schedule for bhindi. Two su c c e s s i v e experiments; (I) standardisation of agro-techniques for enriching compost and (2) organic nutrient scheduling in okra were conducted to achieve the ob j e c t i v e s en vis age d . I nth e fi r s t ex per i men tor din a r y co III P 0 s t (uninoculated a i.d unamended co mp o s t ) was compared with various enriched composts prepared u s r n g phosphate sources such as rockphosphate or bonemeal at var io us levels (5%, 10%, 20%) and microbial inoculants (Azotobacter and Phosphobacter). The experiment was laid out in randomised block design with n m e treatments and three replications. In the second experiment an o r g aru c nutrient schedule was standardised for bhindi, variety Arka anamika by comparing the e ff e c t s 0 f fi v e 0 r g ani c nit r 0 g ens 0 u r c e s [ F Y M a Ion e (S I ), F Y M + poultry manure (S2),' FYM + neemcake (S)), FYM + greenleaf (S4), and FYM + enriched compost (Ss)], three nitrogen levels [50 kg ha-I (Nd, 100 kg ha-I (N2) and' 150 kg ha-I (N))] and microbial inoculation (control and Azospirillum) on growth, yield and quality of bhindi. POP recommendation of Kerala Agricultural University (12t FYM + 50:e:25 kg NPK ha-I) was the absolute control used in the study. The experiment was laid out in 5x3x2+1 factorial randomised block design with three replications.

The results of the investigation are summarised below. Addition of phosphate sources and microbial inoculants reduced the decomposition period and improved the manurial value of enriched composts as compared to the ordinary compost. Lowest C:N ratio and ripening period and highest N, P and K content was recorded by the compost enriched with 20 percent bonemeal and microbial inoculants. Compost treated with 20 percent rockphosphate and bonemeal was comparable with bone meal with respect to C:N ratio, ripening period and P content. Ordinary compost was the most inferior treatment in the study. Among nitrogen sources, all organic nitrogen sources (neemcake, green leaf, poultry manure and enriched compost) except FYM (Sd were superior to POP recommendation. FYM + neemcake (S3) recorded the maximum germination percentage and number of fruits plane I , where as plant height, LAI, fruit weight and fruit length were highest for FYM + green leaf (S4), which also took the' minimum days for 50 percent flowering. All the growth and yield parameters were highest at N3 level of nitrogen and with Azospirillum inoculation. FYM + neemcake recorded the maximum yield (158 q h a") and was on par with FYM + green leaf. Yield was maximum at N3 level and with Azospirillum inoculation. Crude protein content and ascorbic acid content were maximum for FYM + poultry manure and FYM + enriched compost respectively. FYM + enriched compost and FYM + neem cake re cor d e d co m par a b I e and low est c r u d e fi b r e con ten tan d h i g h est keeping quality of fruits. Various quality attributes were better under N3 level of nitrogen and Azospirillum inoculation.

Nand P uptake were highest for FYM + neem cake where as K uptake was maximum for FYM + poultry manure, at N) level of nitrogen and with Azospirillum inoculation. The available N, P and K status of the soil were highest in FYM + neemcake, FYM + enriched compost and FYM alone treated plots respectively, at N3 level of nitrogen and Azospirillum inoculation. FYM + neem cake recorded the rn a x i mum profit and was comparable with FYM + green leaf and FYM + poultry manure. B:C ratio was highest in FY M + nee m cake. P rofi t was max I mu m at N 3 level of nitrogen and Azospirillum inoculation. In the case of interactions S3N3A (FYM + neem cake at N3 level and with Azospirillum) recorded the highest fruit yield and profit ha-I and was comparable with S4N3A (FYM + green leaf at N3 level with Azospirillum) and S2N3A (FYM + poultry manure at N3 level and Azospirillum) The present study revealed that the substitution of chemical fertilizers with organic manures such as neem cake, green leaf, poultry manure and enriched compost was beneficial for increasing the yield and improving the quality of bhindi.