Influence of irrigation regimes, crop spacing and fertilization methods on growth and yield of Okra in coastal region of Maharashtra

Water and nutrients are two important inputs for growing crops. High cost and increasing scarcity call for judicious use of these inputs to reduce losses. In this context, a field experiment was conducted during summer seasons of 2014-15 to 2016-17 in tropical semi-humid climate of coastal region of Maharashtra to evaluate the response of okra (Abemoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) to three irrigation regimes (100 % ET_crop, 80 % ET_crop, and 60% ET_crop) with drip irrigation in conjunction with three crop spacing (1200 - 450× 450 mm, 1200-450× 300 mm, 1200-450× 150 mm) to suit the lateral spacing of 1.2m, and three fertilization methods (ring method, briquette application and fertigation). Results were compared with the conventional method of irrigation and fertilizer application (control). Total water demand of okra was 326.7mm, with maximum one-day crop evapotranspiration of 4.0 mm.day⁻¹. Treatment combination with 80 % ET _crop drip irrigation, 1200-450×150 mm crop spacing, and drip fertigation increased the pod yield by 102.6 % with water saving of 60.9 % over control. Water application of 280.3 mm was optimum to achieve maximum crop yield (16.97 t.ha⁻¹) in Konkan region. Water use-efficiency increased from 11.24 kg.ha⁻¹.mm⁻¹ to 60.32 kg.ha⁻¹.mm⁻¹ with this water application. The treatment resulted in economic water productivity of 242 m⁻³, which was about five times higher over the control treatment.