Influence of biofertilizer application on seed production of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) var. Kashi Kranti under the agro-climatic conditions of Chhattisgarh plains

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2020–21 and 2021–22 at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Farm, Katghora, Korba (Chhattisgarh) to evaluate the influence of biofertilizer application on seed production of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) var. Kashi Kranti under the agro-climatic conditions of Chhattisgarh plains. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with twelve treatment combinations comprising different levels of recommended dose of fertilizers (NPK) at 50%, 75% and 100%, applied alone or in combination with biofertilizers namely Azotobacter (5 kg ha⁻¹), phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) (5 kg ha⁻¹) and vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) (15 kg ha⁻¹) and replicated three times. Observations were recorded on seed yield attributes and yield parameters including days to taken first harvest, dry pod characteristics, number of seeds per pod, 1000-seed weight, seed yield per plant, plot and hectare. Pooled analysis of two years revealed that integrated nutrient management significantly influenced seed production of okra. Application of 100% NPK + PSB @ 5 kg ha⁻¹ recorded the highest seed yield (12.78 q ha⁻¹), which was statistically at par with 100% NPK and 100% NK + 75% P + PSB @ 5 kg ha⁻¹. Treatments receiving higher NPK levels in combination with PSB also exhibited superior yield attributes such as higher number of dry pods per plant, greater pod size, increased seed number per pod and higher 1000-seed weight. In contrast, reduced NPK levels even when supplemented with biofertilizer, resulted in a significantly lower seed yield. The study concludes that integration of PSB with recommended NPK fertilization constitutes an effective and sustainable nutrient management strategy for enhancing seed yield of okra under Chhattisgarh plains conditions.