GROWTH AND YIELD OF OKRA AS INFLUENCED BY GA3 AND POTASSIUM

Abstract

The field experiment was accomplished at the Horticulture Farm in Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, during the period from April to September 2020 to find out the performance of okra in response to GA 3 and Potassium fertilizer . In this experiment BARI Dherosh 1 was used as the test crop .The experiment consisted of two factors and followed RCBD design with three replications. Factor A: Growth regulators (three levels) as - G 0 : Control (no growth regulators/water), G 1 : (100 ppm GA 3 ) and G 2 : (120 ppm GA 3 ) and Factor B: Potassium (three levels) as - K 0 : Control (no K 2 O was applied), K 1 : 80 kg K 2 O ha -1 and K 2 : 100 kg K 2 O ha . With the application of GA 3 , at 20, 40 and 60 DAS the longest plant (15.80 cm, 73.74 cm and 90.70 cm) was recorded from G 1, and the shortest plant (13.91 cm, 64.98 cm and 79.55 cm) was found in G 0 . The highest yield per hectare (17.69 ton) was recorded from G 1 ,whereas the lowest yield per hectare (14.18 ton) from G 0 . In case of potassium fertilizer, at 20, 40 and 60 DAS the longest plant (16.67 cm, 77.93 cm, and 90.70 cm) was found in K 2 and the shortest plant (13.01 cm,59.02cm and 79.22cm) from K 0. The highest yield per hectare (19.13 ton) was obtained from K 2, whereas the lowest yield per hectare (11.64 ton) was recorded from K 0 . In case of combination effect of GA 3 and potassium fertilizer, the maximum pods/plant (40.62) and highest yield per hectare (18.41 ton) was found from G 1 K 2 , again the minimum pods/plant (21.72) and lowest yield per hectare (12.91 ton) from G 0 K 0 . In addition, hormone treatment enhanced flowering and fruiting time of okra. The findings of the present study indicate that 100 ppm GA 3 with 100kg K 2 O ha -1 was suitable combination to produce the highest growth and yield of okra.