Effect of Sowing Dates, Phosphorous and Potassium Fertilizer Rates on Phenological, Growth and Yield Aspects of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L) in Hamelmalo Subzone, Eritrea

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted, in the fields of Hamelmalo Agricultural College, to evaluate the response of sowing-dates and PK (Phosphorous and Potassium) fertilizer levels on phenological aspects, yield and yield components of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L). The experiment was done through a factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) where each treatment was replicated three times. The two factors were: sowing-dates which was composed of three sowing dates; namely, middle kiremti (end of July i.e., mid-summer), late kiremti (middle of August- late-summer) and early qewee (early September-early autumn) and P: K fertilizers which was composed of five rates (0kg/ha, 125 kg/ha (75:50), 150 kg/ha (90:60), 175 kg/ha (105:70) and 200 kg/ha (120:80). Results showed that, the highest significant mean values of leaf area (389.4cm2), leaf numbers (28.2) were recorded from middle kiremti sowing date coupled with 320kg/ha and 175kg/ha PK rates respectively. Besides this the highest significant values of both number of fruits (43.8) and total yield (15.26t/ha) were obtained from highest PK rate coupled with late kiremti and middle kiremti respectively.  The sole effects of the PK rates as well as the sowing dates were found to be significant on all the parameters mentioned above including individual fruit weight.  It is therefore the sowing during late kiremti coupled with application of 200kg/ha kg/ha was the best for getting the best economic returns.