Performance of Summer Okra Under Subsurface Drip Irrigation Method in Clay Loam Soil of Coastal Saurastra

The experiments were conducted (during 2013–14 and 2014–15) in clay loam soil of KVK farm, JAU, Porbandar on one of the economically important vegetable crops, okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench.) to assess the yield performance. Treatment of experiment are as a main plot; irrigation regime (0.6, 0.8 and 01.0 IW/CPE ratio represented as I₁, I₂ and I₃) and sub-plot as depth of placement of laterals. Laterals each of 20 m length were placed at depths of 0 m (on the soil surface) 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20 m below the soil surface which are represented as treatments D₁, D₂, D₃ and D₄, respectively, in each sub-plot. Data of crop growth yield and water use efficiency of crop of experimental plots was recorded during experiment and was subjected to split plot design for analysis. Significantly higher yield (15.46 tha⁻¹)was obtained with (I₃) 1.0 IW/CPE level than other irrigation regime. Yield under D₂ (15 cm) depths of SDI laterals was found significantly higher than that under other lateral depths. In the interaction effect, (I₃D₃) gave the highest yield 18.31 tha⁻¹. On plant height and 50% flowering there were non-significant effect of treatments. The water use efficiency (25.01 kg/hamm) was also higher with D₃ (15 cm placement depth of lateral).