EFFECT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIC AND INORGANIC SOURCES OF NUTRIENTS ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF OKRA

Abstract

An experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Research Station, Pahartali. Chittagong during the period from April to October 2008 to investigate the effect of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients on the growth and yield of okra. the okra variety "BAR! Dherosh I" was used as experimental material. The experiment consisted of five treatments viz. i) M0: Control (No manure and fertilizer) ii) M Cowdung + 50% recommended dose of chemical krtilizer: iii) M 2: Poultry litter 50% recommended dose of chemical fertilizer: iv) M3 : Farm yard manure 50% recommended dose of chemical fertilizer and v) M 4 : 100% recommended dose of chemical fertilizer. The organic manures were used at the rate of 2.5 tons/ha. The recommended fertilizer(RF) doses of inorganic fertilizers were nitrogen

50 kg/ha, 1` 205 15 kg/ha and K20 @ 30 kg/ha. The treatments were laid out in randomized complete block design with four replications. The size of the unit plot was 3.6 in x 1.2 in. The okra seeds were sown on 23 April. 2008 and the crop was harvested from 4 June to 5 October. 2009. Organic and inorganic sources of nutrients had significant influences on all the studied parameters. The earliest (lowering (32.25 DAS) was recorded in the control treatment (Mu) whereas 100% recommended dose ol cheniical fertilizer took the longest period (44.87 DAS) to produce first Ilower. The highest plant height (105.84 em) was recorded in M 3 treatment (FYM +50% RF) at 60 days aller sowing and the maximum number of leaves (22.48) was recorded in M treatment (cowdung ± SO% Rfl. The highest number of pods per plant (19.09) was recorded in Mj treatment (cowdung + 50% 1(17). The heaviest single fruit (18.84 g) and the maximum weight of edible green pod (269.14 g/plant) was recorded from the plants which were treated with M 4 treatment (100% recommended dose of chemical fertilizer). The highest marketable fruit yield (4.02 kg/plot and 9.30 tons/hectare) was obtained from M 4 treatment followed by M1 treatment. The study suggests combination of organic and inorganic fertilizer shouLd be applied for higher and sustainable yield of okra.