Dynamics of nutrient availability in okra production with organic and inorganic fertilizers

Abstract

The present study was carried out at the Research farm of Abhilashi University, Mandi (H.P) during the summer season of 2023. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications comprising seven treatments consisting of different combinations of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers to assess the impact of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield, soil and economics of okra crop. The results revealed that treatment T7 [N: P: K (50%) + Farm Yard Manure (25%) + Vermicompost (25%)] influenced all parameters like days to first flower appearance (36.40), plant height (98.03 cm), stem diameter (3.0 cm), number of leaves per plant (26.39), length of leaves (30.91 cm), average fruit weight (26.95 g), fruit length (24.07 cm), fruit diameter (3.27 cm), yield per plot (6.91 kg), yield per hectare (155.42 q), available nitrogen (301.32 kg/ha), available phosphorus (36.02 kg/ha), available potassium (249.08 kg/ha). The maximum water holding capacity (24.68%) and organic carbon (1.02%) were recorded in treatment T3 [N: P: K (50%) + Farm Yard Manure (50%)] and T5 [N: P: K (50%) + Vermicompost (50%)] respectively. The economics in terms of gross return (₹ 466258.5), net return (₹ 358,245) and B: C ratio (3.32) were also maximum in T7.