RESPONSE OF OKRA TO DIFFERENT DOSES OF K-FERTILIZER AND SPACING

Abstract

The experiment was carried out at the Research Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), Dhaka during the period from April to August 2014 to find out the effect of spacing and potassium fertilizer on the growth and yield of okra. The test crop used in the experiment was BARI Dherosh-1. The experiment consisted of two factors: Factor A: Plant spacing (3 levels) as-S1: 50 cm x 30 cm, S2: 50 cm x 40 cm, S3: 50 cm x 50 cm and Factor B: Potassium fertilizer (3 levels) as- K0: 0 kg K20fha (control), K1: 120 kg K20/ha and K2: 150 kg K20/ha. The two factors experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data on different growth parameters, yield attributing characters and yield of okra was recorded and statistically significant variations were observed for different treatments. For spacing, at 20,40 and 60 DAS, the tallest plants (25.29. 62.88 and 91.29 cm) were recorded from S2, while at the same DAS, the shortest plants (18.84, 56.46 and 81.85 cm) were measured from S. The highest weight of individual fruit (17.06 g) was recorded from 82, whereas the lowest weight of individual fruit (14.29 g) was recorded from S. The highest yield per hectare (16.23 ton) was observed from S2, whereas the lowest yield per hectare (13.34 ton) from S1. For potassium fertilizer, at 20, 40 and 60 DAS the tallest plants (25.29, 63.81 and 91.20 cm) were recorded from K2, whereas the shortest plants (18.16, 54.65 and 81.41 cm) were found from K2. The highest weight of individual fruit (17.10 g) was recorded from K2 whereas, the lowest weight of individual fruit (13.93 g) was found from K0. The highest yield per hectare (16.26 ton) was recorded from K2, while the lowest yield per hectare (13.18 ton) was found from K0. Due to interaction effect of plant spacing and levels of potassium fertilizer the tallest plants (29.42, 67.65 and 96.93 cm) were recorded from S2K2 and, the shortest plants (16.91, 53.25 and 80.13 cm) were recorded from S1K0. The highest weight of individual fruit (18.44 g) was recorded from S2K2, whereas the lowest weight of individual fruit (13.47 g) was obtained from S 1K0. The highest yield per hectare (18.00 ton) was recorded from S2K2, while the lowest yield per hectare (11.35 ton) was observed from S1K0. From the findings it was revealed that 50 cm x 40 cm plant spacing with 150 kg K20/ha was the best combination for attaining the highest yield contributing characters and yield of okra.