Effect of Seed Treatments with Selected Plant Growth Regulators and Micronutrients on Growth and Yield Attributing Traits of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) under Drought Condition

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to overcome the problem of low germination by priming the seeds with different micro-nutrients and growth regulators and evaluate the effect of seed treatments of selected plant growth regulators and micronutrients on growth and yield attributing traits of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) under drought condition. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications and ten treatments. T0 untreated control was evaluated against, T1 Potassium chloride (KCL), T2 Zinc Sulphate (ZnSO4), T3 Copper Sulphate (CuSO4), T4 Boric Acid (H3BO3), T5 Magnesium Chloride + Zinc Sulphate (MgCl2+ZnSO4), T6 Magnesium Chloride (MgCl2), T7 Gibberellic Acid (GA3), T8 Boric Acid + Copper Sulphate (H3BO3+ CuSO4), T9 Boric Acid + Zinc Sulphate (H3BO3+ ZnSO4) and T9 Trichoderma. The experiment was conducted at Central Research Farm, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, during March to July 2023. The required solution was collected in a beaker, then seeds of okra were soaked in the solution for 8 hours, then the seeds were removed and sown on experimental site. Further growth and yield parameters viz, Field emergence, Plant height (30, 60 & 90 DAS), Days to 50% flowering, Number of leaves (30 & 60 DAS), Capsule length, Seed yield per hectare, Fruit yield per hectare were recorded. Seeds treated with T7 Gibberellic Acid (GA3) recorded higher rate of Field emergence (91.67%), Plant height 30 DAS (20.75cm), Plant height 60 DAS (29.21cm) Plant height 90 DAS (34.78cm), Days to 50% flowering (36.60), Number of leaves 30 DAS (8.07), Number of leaves 60 DAS (25.20), Capsule length (15.25cm), Seed yield per hectare (4.57q), Fruit yield per hectare (74.87q). Based on the results of assessment, it can be concluded that T7 Gibberellic Acid (GA3) soaked for 08 hours showed the best performance in terms of growth and yield attributing traits of okra.