Effect of Nitrogen and Potash Levels on Green Pod Yield, Quality and Post-harvest Soil Nutrient Status of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) during kharif Season under Middle Gujarat Conditions

The field experiment was conducted at Main Vegetable Research Station, Anand Agricultural University, Anand to study the “Effect of nitrogen and potash levels on growth and green pod yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) during kharif season under middle Gujarat conditions” during the year 2015. The soil of experimental field was loamy sand in texture having good drainage and 7.7 pH at 0-15 cm soil depth. The experiment was laid out in RBD with factorial concept in three replications. The treatment comprised of four nitrogen levels (75, 100, 125 and 150 kg N/ha) and five levels of potash (25, 50, 75, 25as basal + 25 at 45 DAS and 37.5 as basal + 37.5 at 45 DAS kg K2O/ ha). There were total twenty treatment combinations of different levels of nitrogen and potash. The crop was fertilized as per respective nitrogen @ 75,100,125 and 150 kg N/ha and potash @ 25, 50, 75, 50 and 75 kg K2O/ha in the respective plots as per treatments. Results revealed that application of 150 kg N/ha recorded significantly higher green pod yield, available nitrogen and nitrogen content. Application of potash in two equal split (37.5 kg K2O/ha at basal + 37.5 kg K2O/ha at 45 DAS) treatment recorded higher green pod yield as well as various quality parameters, available potash in soil and potash content in green fruit. In case of cost of cultivation, result revealed that application of 125 kg N/ha with two equal split of 25 kg K2O/ha at basal + 25 kg K2O /ha at 45 day treatment combination recorded higher benefit cost ratio. In case of individual treatment on economics, application of 150 kg N/ha and potash application (37.5 kg K2O/ha at basal + 37.5 kg K2O/ha at 45 DAS) was recorded higher benefit cost ratio.