Microsite variations of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.] Under different weed management practices
dc.contributor.advisor | Sindhu, P V | |
dc.contributor.author | Shamla, K | |
dc.contributor.author | KAU | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2020-02-26T10:32:17Z | |
dc.date.available | 2020-02-26T10:32:17Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2017 | |
dc.description.abstract | Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.] is a warm season vegetable crop cultivated mainly for its immature fruits. Weed control is an expensive management practice in okra production which can influence productivity of both crop and soil. Weed management practices can modify the micro environment of crops, the extent depending on the method adopted, environmental conditions, and other management practices. The present study was taken up in the Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during March to June, 2016 to assess the effect of weed management practices on microsite variations and their consequent effect on growth and yield of okra. The treatments comprised of four different organic mulches (mango leaves, paddy straw, newspaper and coir fibre mat), mulching with black polythene sheet, hand weeding, application of pre emergence herbicide and an unweeded control treatment. Black polythene mulching positively influenced the yield and yield attributes of okra and resulted in greatest plant height and number of branches. Mulching with black polythene, hand weeding and herbicide treatment reduced the number of days to harvest. Higher number of harvests and number of fruits per plant were obtained with black polythene mulching. This treatment recorded a fruit yield of 14.58 t ha-1, followed by the treatments paddy straw mulching and newspaper mulching (11.16 and 11.01 t ha-1). Crop uptake of nutrients was higher under black polythene mulch and was lowest in unweeded control. Similarly, except for coir fibre mat mulching, all other treatments with mulching showed higher uptake of nutrients, and consequently, these plants showed higher relative chlorophyll content (SPAD units). Mulching also improved the soil nutrient status as compared to hand weeded, herbicide treated and weedy check plots. Available N and K were higher in mulched plots while available P content was more or less similar in all the plots. Considerable effect of weed management practices on soil microclimate was noticed. Black polythene sheet recorded higher soil temperature during the entire crop period. Soil temperature in the plots with organic mulches was lower than the plots without mulching. In general, the soil moisture content at different growth stages of the crop was higher in all the treatments with mulching as compared to treatments without mulching. Higher population of soil microflora was observed with mulching as compared to unmulched plots. Paddy straw improved soil bacterial and fungal populations both at flowering and harvesting, whereas, actinomycetes were higher under black polythene mulch. At flowering, total population of P - solubilsers, nitrogen fixers and antagonists were higher under mulching with paddy straw. At harvest higher microbial biomass carbon was found in black polythene mulched plots, followed by paddy straw. Higher weed control efficiency (more than 90 %) was observed with black polythene mulching throughout the crop period. Among different organic mulches, newspaper mulch recorded higher weed control efficiency followed by paddy straw mulch. Mulching with coir fibre mat failed to reduce weed growth. Mulching with paddy straw and newspaper recorded lower weed indices than hand weeding and pre emergence application of pendimethalin. The highest benefit:cost ratio of 3.02 was recorded for black polythene mulching. Newspaper mulching and pre emergence spray of pendimethalin were next with respect to B:C ratio. Different weed management practices significantly influenced the micro environment of the crop, and influenced the yield and yield parameters of okra as well as the soil quality. Use of either organic (newspaper or paddy straw) or inorganic (polythene) mulches is a better alternative to manual weeding or herbicidal application for effective weed management and for better B:C ratio in okra. | en_US |
dc.identifier.uri | http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810143683 | |
dc.keywords | Okra, Mulching, Weed flora, Pendimethalin, Herbicides, Chlorophyll, Actinomycetes, Paddy straw, Organic carbon, Hand weeding | en_US |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.pages | 102 | en_US |
dc.publisher | Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara | en_US |
dc.sub | Agronomy | en_US |
dc.subject | null | en_US |
dc.theme | Microsite variations of okra | en_US |
dc.these.type | M.Sc | en_US |
dc.title | Microsite variations of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.] Under different weed management practices | en_US |
dc.type | Thesis | en_US |