Evaluation of Three Distinct Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) Varieties in Response to Organic and Inorganic Sources of Nutrients

A field experiment was conducted during the Kharif season of 2022 at Noakhali Science and Technology University to examine the impact of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth and yield of okra. The experiment comprised three varieties viz., Green Finger, BARI Dherosh-1, and A local variety and three treatments viz., T1= Organic fertilizers (Vermicompost 50%+ Farmyard Manure (FYM) 50%, @ 10 tons/ha), T2= Chemical fertilizers (NPK- 80:60:60 kg/ha), and T3= Control. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were collected on different growth and yield parameters viz., plant height (cm), stem diameter (cm), leaf number, leaf length (cm), leaf breadth (cm), petiole length (cm), days required for first flowering (DAS), pod/ plant, single fruit length (cm), single fruit diameter (cm), single fruit weight (gm), yield/ plot (kg), and yield/ ha (ton). Results revealed that the Green Finger variety exhibited higher growth and yield in comparison to both the BARI Dherosh-1 and the local variety. The combination of 50% vermicompost and 50% FYM demonstrated greater outcomes in contrast with chemical fertilizers and without fertilizer. Therefore, the treatment combination V1T1, consisting of the Green finger variety with a 50% vermicompost and 50% FYM, @ 10 tons/ ha, resulted in the maximum okra production of 14.15 tons/ha. The experiment's findings led to the inference that the utilization of vermicompost and FYM in combination is an effective soil amendment, positioning it as a superior organic fertilizer in comparison to chemical fertilizers. Additionally, this approach demonstrates greater environmental sustainability. Therefore, it is imperative to promote the appropriate utilization of organic sources of nutrients in the production of okra to enhance growth and increase production.