EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM ON THE YIELD CONTRIBUTING CHARACTERS AND YIELD OF OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus L..)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the Central Farm of the Sher-c-Bangla Agricultural University. Dhaka during the period from April to July 2007 to detemtine the effect of different levels of phosphorus and potassium on yield contributing characters and yield of okra. The experiment considered two lactors. Factor A: Phosphorous (4 levels) i.e. 0 kg P205 (Pu). 30 kg P205 (P1 ). 60 kg P205 (P2) and 90 kg P205 (P3 ); Factor B: Potassium (4 levels) i.e. 0 kg K20 (K0). 50 kg K20 (K1 ). 100 kg K20 (K2) and 150 kg K20 (K3). There were 16 treatments combinations. The data obtained for different characters were statistically analyzed to find out the significance of the phosphorus and potassium. At 60 DAS the longest plant(103.40 cm) was recorded from P 2 , while the control gave the shortest plant (78.71 cm).l'hc maximum (4.65 cm) plant diameter was recorded from P3 and the control gave the minimum (3.42 cm) plant diameter. Maximum number of leaves (56.35) per plant was recorded from P2, while the control gave the minimum (41.08). The maximum days (42.00) from sowing to flowering was recorded from P0 and the minimum days (40.25) was recorded from P3. The maximum (14.10 cm) pod length was recorded from P. and the minimum (11.80 cm) was recorded from control condition. The maximum (1.67 cm) diameter of pod was recorded from P2 and the minimum (1.21 cm) was recorded from control condition. The maximum number of pod (26.45) per plant was recorded from P 2 and the minimum (20.54) was recorded from control condition. The maximum (18.40 g) individual fruit weight was recorded from P 2 and the minimum (14.48 g) from control condition. The maximum (8.95 ti'ha) yield was recorded from P 2 and the minimum (6.29 tiha) from control condition. At 60 DAS the longest (103.19 cm) plant height was recorded from K 3 and the shortest (72.57 cm) from control. The maximum (4.69 cm) plant diameter was recorded from K3 and the minimum (3.14 cm) from control. The maximum (56.35) number of leaves per plant was recorded from K. and the minimum (43.76) from control. The maximum (41.58) days from sowing to flowering was recorded from K 3, while the minimum days (40.25) was obtained from K 2. The maximum length of pod (13.47 cm) was recorded from K3 while the minimum (11.80cm) was recorded from control. The maximum diameter of pod (1.55 cm) was recorded from K 3 while the minimum (1.27 cm) was recorded from control. The maximum number of pod (24.86) per plant was recorded from K3, while the minimum (20.76) was recorded from control condition of potassium. The maximum (17.45 g) individual fruit weight was recorded from K 3, while the minimum (15.00 g) was recorded from control condition of potassium. The maximum (8.69 tiha) yield was recorded from K 2 , while the minimum (6.66 tlha) was recorded from control condition. Considering the yield contributing characters and yield P 2K3 was the best combination among different treatments. The highest (2.15) benefit cost ratio was obtained from P2K 3 and the lowest (1.24) from P21C0.