Improvement in yield and quality of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) through crop spacing, mulching and irrigation levels in arid regions

Meena, Atma Ram , Narolia, Rajeev Kumar , Yadav, Pramod Kumar , Lata, Kumari , Meena, Siyaram

2024-03-01 INDIAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES 2024   94(卷), 3(期), (270-275页)

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The field experiments were conducted during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 2018-19 and 2019-20 at College of Agriculture, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, Rajasthan to study the effect of crop spacing, mulching and irrigation levels on yield and quality of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]. Experiment was laid out in split plot design (SPD) with four irrigation levels [40, 60, 80 and 100% pan evaporation (PE)] in the main plot. Two crop geometries (normal sowing and paired row sowing) and three mulches (no mulch, straw and plastic mulch in black colour) were used in the sub-plot and sub-sub-plot, respectively. The study found that using 40% of PE for irrigation led to the shortest time to first flowering (41.72 days). However, the highest fruit yield, leaf area index (LAI), total soluble solids (TSS), protein content and cost-benefit ratio (B:C ratio) were achieved when irrigating at 100% PE followed by 80% PE. Water use efficiency (WUE) was highest (17.24 kg/ha/mm) at 40% PE irrigation level. The highest fruit yield of 153.1 g/plant and 122.4 q/ha was achieved when straw mulch was applied. Considering the combined data, it's worth mentioning that the B:C ratio was significantly greater when utilizing 100 PE irrigation without mulch. Conversely, WUE at 19.1 kg/ha/mm, showed a significant increase when employing 40% PE irrigation along with straw mulch. Therefore, the study demonstrates that utilizing paired row sowing with straw mulch and irrigation at 100% PE resulted in the highest growth attributes, fruit quality of okra and B:C ratio.