GROWTH AND YIELD OF OKRA AS INFLUENCED BY SOWING DATE AND FERTILIZER AMENDMENT

Abstract

The experiment was carried out in the Horticulture Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka from February to July 2018. BARI Dherosh-2 was used as planting materials. The experiment consisted of two factors: Factor A: Sowing dates (3 levels) as-S 1 : Sowing at 1 st March, S 2 : Sowing at 15 March, and S 3 : Sowing at 30 th March; Factor B: Fertilizer amendment (4 levels) as- F : No nutrients (control), F 1 : RFD of NPK fertilizer, F 2 th : Vermicompost @ 4 t ha

and F : Vermicompost @ 2 t + 50% RFD of NPK fertilizer). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. In case of sowing date, the tallest plant 32.42, 67.99, 91.08 and 123.39 cm were recorded from S 3 2 treatment at 30, 45, 60 and 75 DAS respectively. Treatment S

performed the maximum (24.07) number of pods plant -1 and the highest pod yield (15.24 t ha -1 ). On the other hand, F gave the highest plant height (33.63, 69.53, 93.27 and 127.10 cm in 30, 45, 60 and 75 DAS respectively). The maximum (25.16) number of pods plant -1 3 and the highest pod yield (16.42 t ha ) was contributed by F 3 . The treatment combination of S 2 F provided the highest plant height (37.00, 75.75, 99.25 and 136.88 cm in 30, 45, 60 and 75 DAS respectively), number of pods plant -1 3 (27.07) and yield (17.90 t ha ). The highest benefit cost ratio (2.07) was found from the treatment combination of S and the lowest (1.28) from S 3 F 0 . So, sowing at 15 th March and Vermicompost @ 2 t + 50% RFD of NPK fertilizer was suitable combination for growth and yield of okra. -1 2 F 3 0 -1 -1 2