Effect of fertilizer and seaweed extract on the yield traits of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

Introduction

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) commonly known as lady's finger or bhindi, belongs to the family Malvaceae. It is widely adopted vegetable in Indian kitchens and can be grown round the year. In India, it is widely grown in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat. India produced about 175 million tonnes of vegetable from 10.3 million hectare. Okra fingers are excellent source of minerals which imparts resistance against many diseases. It is also good for patients suffering from cardiac disorders. Seaweed extract has gained significant attention in sustainable agriculture due to its natural bio-stimulant properties and ability to enhance crop performance without the adverse environmental effects associated with synthetic agrochemicals. Derived from marine macroalgae, seaweed extracts are rich in plant growth regulators such as auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellins, as well as essential nutrients including nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and trace elements like zinc, manganese, and iron. When applied to crops like okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), seaweed extract has been shown to significantly improve germination rates, root and shoot development, and overall plant vigor. The hormonal activity in seaweed promotes enhanced vegetative growth characterized by larger leaves and stronger stems, leading to a more robust plant capable of higher productivity. Additionally, seaweed treatments often result in earlier flowering and improved fruit set, which is critical for maximizing yield in a short-season crop like okra. However, limited information is available on the combined use of fertilizers and seaweed extracts on okra under local conditions. Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken to study the Effect of Fertilizer and Seaweed Extract on the yield traits of Okra.

Materials and Methods

The Experiment was carried out during summer season of the year 2024-25 at research farm village Khudmudi under College of Horticulture and research station, Sankara-Patan, Durg (C.G.). The experimental material consisted of nine treatments including control. Different inputs used include RDF and seaweed extracts. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications.

Treatment Details

Climatic condition

Durg lies within the tropical climatic zone and receives the majority of its annual rainfall, ranging from about 1100 to 1276 mm, during the southwest monsoon season, primarily from June to October. Summers in the region are hot, with temperatures varying between 30 °C and 47 °C, whereas winters are mild, with temperatures ranging from 5 °C to 25 °C.

Results and Discussion

Yield parameters

The results revealed that the significant differences were observed among treatments for number of fruit per plant, average weight of fruit and total yield at hectare levels (Table 1). The highest fruit yield per hectare (156.63 q/ha) and maximum average fruit weight (10.41 g) was recorded under T4 (75% RDF + 4% S SAP), followed by T 3 (151.50 q/ha and 8.87 g fruit weight). The lowest yield was obtained in the control (T 0 ), which produced only 111.08 q/ha with 7.90 g fruit weight.

The superior performance of T 4 (75% RDF + 4% S SAP) may be attributed to the combined effect of balanced nutrient supply through reduced chemical fertilizers along with the beneficial role of SAP in improving soil moisture retention, nutrient availability, and uptake efficiency. This integration not only enhanced fruit weight but also increased the number of fruits per plant, ultimately resulting in higher yields. Similar positive impacts of integrating SAP with inorganic fertilizers on growth and yield of vegetable crops have been reported by Dwivedi et al. (2014) [4] , Singh et al.

Economic parameter

The results showed that significant variation in cost of cultivation, gross return, net return, and benefit-cost ratio (B:C) was observed under different nutrient management practices (Table 2). The highest cost of cultivation (₹61,798)

was incurred with T 2 (100% RDF + 4% S SAP), while the lowest (₹55,148) was in T 0 (control). Gross return was maximum (₹2,81,925) in T 4 (75% RDF + 4% S SAP), compared to the minimum (₹1,69,950.6) in T 0 (Control).

Net return was also maximum (₹2,21,042) in T 4 (75% RDF + 4% S SAP), while the minimum (₹1,11,687.6) was recorded in T 7 (25% RDF + 2% K SAP). Similarly, the highest B:C ratio (4.63) was obtained with T 4 (75% RDF + 4% S SAP), whereas the lowest (2.92) was recorded in T 0 (control). The superior economic performance of T 4 may be attributed to efficient nutrient utilization along with the beneficial effects of SAP in conserving soil moisture and enhancing fertilizer use efficiency, which ultimately resulted in higher yield and profitability. These findings are consistent with previous reports by Kumari (2021) [5] , Barakat et al. (2021) [2] , and Thirumaran et al. (2009) [10] , who highlighted the positive economic impact of seaweed extract in vegetable cultivation.

Conclusion

The findings of the present study indicate that the application of specific concentrations of Seaweed Extract can significantly enhance the growth and yield performance of okra. The comparison of different treatments revealed that the foliar application of 4 % SWE with 75 % RDF was the most effective in improving both yield traits. This treatment recorded the highest number of fruits per plant (125.30) average fruit weight (10.41 g), and total yield (156.63 q/ha). It also resulted in the highest economic return, with a maximum net return and a favourable benefitcost ratio (4.63). These results suggest that the use of Seaweed Extract with combination of Fertilizer, can play a vital role in enhancing both productivity and profitability in okra cultivation.

References

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