Potential Impact of Fertigation on Growth, Flowering, Yield and Economic Returns in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

A study was carried out at College Orchard, Department of Vegetable Crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during 2011, 2012 and 2013 to find out the effect of raised bed, drip irrigation, fertigation, mulching, plastic mulch, foliar spray of water soluble fertilizer (WSF) and mixture of all micronutrients on growth, flowering, yield and economics of okra. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with six treatments and replicated four times. The treatment combination includes raised bed cultivation, drip irrigation, fertigation, plastic mulch, foliar spray of WSF and micronutrients. The results revealed that okra raised bed + drip irrigation + plastic mulch + fertigation + foliar spray of WSF (19:19:19 @ 10 g/lit. 5 times) + Mixture of all micronutrients (T1) recorded the days to 50% early flowering (44.3 days), highest plant height (177.5cm), fruit length(13.83 cm), fruit girth (12.20cm), No. of fruits/plant (25.0), fruit yield/plant (0.460 kg), fruit yield/hectare (202.0 q) and economic returns (1.89) when compared to farmers practice (T6) which recorded 153.27 q/ha. Therefore (T1) raised bed + drip irrigation + plastic mulch + fertigation + foliar spray of WSF (19:19:19 @ 10 g/lit. 5 times) + mixture of all micronutrients can be recommended for getting increased growth, flowering and the highest yield for okra under kharif cultivation.