Impact of Sowing Dates and Bio-Fertilizers on Yield Attributes and Yield Parameters in Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted during the kharif seasons of 2022-23 and 2023-24 at the Vegetable Research Farm, Department of Vegetable Science, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kalyanpur, Kanpur to study the impact of sowing dates and bio-fertilizers on yield attributes and yield parameters in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with 3 replications. Twelve treatment combinations comprising of three sowing dates viz., D1 (1st July), D2 (15th July) and D3 (30th July) and four levels of bio-fertilizers viz., B0 Control (No bio-fertilizer), B1 (Azotobacter @ 3 kg/ha), B2 (PSB @ 3 kg/ha) and B3 (Azotobacter @ 3 kg/ha + PSB @ 3 kg/ha). The results of the study revealed that the treatment combination D1 (1st July) with B3 (Azotobacter @ 3 kg/ha + PSB @ 3 kg/ha), performed better than other treatments such as yield attributes and yield parameters viz., days to first fruit initiation (45.15 days), days to first picking (46.77 days), number of fruits per plant (26.49), fruit length (13.67 cm), average fruit weight (13.76 g), fruit yield per plant (356.98 g), fruit yield per plot (12.49 kg), fruit yield (132.16 q/ha). On the basis of results, it may be concluded that the sowing date 1st July + Azotobacter @ 3 kg/ha + PSB @ 3 kg/ha was found suitable in yield attributes and yield parameters viz., days to first fruit initiation, days to first picking, number of fruits per plant, fruit length (cm), average fruit weight (g), fruit yield per plant (g), fruit yield per plot (kg), fruit yield (q/ha).