Effect of Vermicompost and Zn on Physico-Chemical Properties of Soil in Cultivation of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) var. Supper Green

Abstract

The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of vermicompost and zinc as form of ZnSO4.7H20 on soil health and yield attributes of okra. The design applied was 3x3 randomized block design having three levels of vermicompost @ 0, 50 and 100% ha-1, three levels of Zn @ 0, 50 and 100% ha-1 respectively. It was observed that treatment T9 (Vermicompost @ 100% + Zn @ 100%) improved the soil WHC, OC, available N, P, and K, resulted in a slight chenge in soil pH 7.28, EC 0.388 dS m-1 and bulk density 1.40 Mg m-3 and particle density 2.64 Mg m-3. In post- harvest soil of fertilizers observations were resulted in significant increase in pore space 48.20%, water holding capacity 43.22 %, organic carbon 0.52 %, and available N 307.14kg ha-1, P 34.14 kg ha-1, K 186.58 kg ha-1 and Zn 0.57 mg kg-1, significant increase in case of Nitrogen kg ha-1, Phosphorus kg ha-1, Potassium kg ha-1 and Zinc mg kg-1 was found to be significant among other treatments in okra cultivation and soilquality improvement. The maximum yield regarding, gave the best results with respect to plant height 120.70 cm, number of leaves plant-1 49.31, number of fruit plant-1 24.22, and yield of fruits 135.59 q ha-1. It gave highest yield 135.59 q ha-1. It was also revealed that the application of Zinc with organic manures was excellent source for fertilizer.