Impact of Nitrogen and Phosphorous Fertilizer on Growth, Yield and Yield Contributing Factors of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) Under Conditions of Mansehra, Pakistan

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at National Tea and high Value crops Research  Institute Shinkiari (Mansehra), Pakistan during 2014 to evaluate the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus on yield and yield components of Okra (Var: Sabz Pari)  The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with split plot arrangement having three replicates various levels of nitrogen and phosphorus were included, namely T₁(0-0), T₂(100-60 ), T₃(100-90), T₄(100-120), T₅(150-60), T₆(150-90) and  T₇(150-120) NP kg/ha. Urea and single superphosphate (SSP) were used as source of nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively. Significant response of various levels of nitrogen and phosphorus were observed. Results revealed that maximum days to 50 % emergence (6.66) were recorded in T₁ as compared to 5 days to emergence in T₇. Maximum germination percentage (89.66), days to 50% flowering (46), days to first fruits picking (49), plant height at first picking (81.66cm), No. of Pod per plant (23.33), were recorded in T_7.  The lowest 84.33% germination, 43.33 days to 50% flowering, 49.33 days to first fruits picking, 61 cm plant height at first picking, 13.33 No. of pod per plant and 37.33 No. of seeds per pod were recorded in T₁.  Maximum pod length (16.16 cm) and pod diameter (2.03 cm) was recorded in Treatment (T₃) as compared to 12.50 cm pod length and 1.59 cm pod diameter in T₁. Maximum 1000 seed weight of 59.06 g was recorded in T₆ while minimum 1000 seed weight of 49.50 g was recorded in T₁.  Maximum fruits yield (10.48 tons ha^-1) was recorded in T₆, followed by T₃, T₅ while T₁ produced the lowest fruits yield of 6.99 tons ha^-1.  It was concluded that application of N and P @ 150 kg N ha^-1 + 90 kg P ha^-1 in combination resulted in higher yield of Okra.