Effect of Foliar Nutrition on Growth Parameters of Bhindi [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, Kasaragod, Kerala, during 2024–2025, to study the influence of foliar nutrition and its split application on growth attributes in bhindi. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with fourteen treatment combinations and three replications. Treatment had two main factors (i) Foliar nutrition F1: Micro sol (2%), F2: 19:19:19 (0.5%), F3: Nano urea (0.4%), F4: Supernatant solution of cow dung (10 %), F5: 19:19:19 (0.5%) + Micro sol (2%), F6: Nano urea (0.4%) + Micro sol (2%), F7: Supernatant solution of cow dung (10 %) + Micro sol (2%) and (ii) Number of split applications S1: 15 DAS, 30DAS and 45 DAS, S2: 15DAS, 30DAS, 45 DAS and 60DAS. Results indicated that treatments varied significantly for all growth characteristics. F₅, comprising 19:19:19 (0.5%) + Micro sol (2%), had a maximum plant height, number of branches, leaf length, leaf width, and dry matter production, followed by Nano urea 0.4% + Micro sol 2% (F₆). Split applications at four intervals (S₂) were superior to three-split applications (S₁). The study clearly shows that the combined foliar application of 19:19:19 (0.5%) and Micro sol (2%) at four split intervals can enhance nutrient uptake and improve the growth attributes in bhindi.