Response of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] to levels of irrigation, nitrogen and mulch under drip irrigation system
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Date
2022-10
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CCSHAU, Hisar
Abstract
The field experiment was conducted during spring summer season of 2019-20 and 2020-21 at
Research Farm of the Department, Vegetable Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar to
study the response of okra to levels of irrigation, nitrogen and mulch under drip irrigation system. The
experiment was laid out in a Split-Split Plot Design with 27 treatment combinations comprised of three
levels of drip irrigation (80, 100 and 120% ET) as main plots, three levels of nitrogen fertigation (75,
100, and 125 kg/ha) as sub plots and three level of mulch (no mulch, white plastic mulch and yellow
plastic mulch) as sub-sub plots and one control treatment replicated thrice. The growth parameters were
recorded maximum under drip irrigation at 120% ET, 125 kg/N per ha and yellow plastic mulch as
compared to other levels, respectively, whereas all the yield and quality parameters were recorded
maximum with white plastic mulch, 125 kg/N per ha and drip irrigation at 100 and 80% ET,
respectively, as compared to other levels. The use of plastic mulch minimizes the weed population and
maximizes the weed control efficiency. The lowest Weed dry weight and weed density and maximum
weed control efficiency were recorded with white plastic mulch. However, the maximum WUE (71.03,
60.10 and 65.56 kg/ha/mm, respectively) and NUE (152.47, 148.31 and 150.39 kg/ha/kg, respectively)
was observed from the level drip irrigation at 80% ET and 125 kg/N per ha, respectively. Further, the
interaction of irrigation with nitrogen fertigation and mulch significantly affected almost all the growth,
yield and quality parameters. The highest net returns (Rs.128289/ha and Rs.124478/ha) and benefit
cost ratio (2.00 and 1.99) were recorded in the treatment drip irrigation at 100% ET with 125 kg/ha
nitrogen fertigation and white plastic mulch as compared to rest of the treatments combinations. In the
end it is concluded that for achieving the higher yield, better quality, maximum NUE, WUE and net
profit, the okra crop can be irrigated at 80% ET through drip irrigation in combination with 125 kg/ha
nitrogen fertigation and milky white coloured plastic mulch.