Impact of Zinc and Boron on Growth, Yield and Quality of Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

Abstract

A field investigation was carried out during the summer season, 2022-23 at Research Field of Department of Vegetable Science, College of Horticulture, Mandsaur (MP). The experiment was carried on Pusa Bhindi- 5 variety of okra with eight treatments and tested in RBD. The treatments of zinc and boron were T1 -(Control), T2 -(Zinc 2.5 kg/ha) T3 -(Zinc 5.0 kg/ha), T4 -(Zinc 7.5 kg/ha), T5 -(Boron 0.5 kg/ha), T6 -(Boron 1.0 kg/ha), T7 -(Boron 1.5 kg/ha), T8 -(Boron 2.0 kg/ha) used in this field experiment. The results of experiment indicated that the treatment T7 (Boron 1.5 kg/ha) registered with highest of plant height (cm), number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, SPAD value, fresh weight and dry weight of plant (g) and minimum days to 50% flowering and days to first picking of okra. Yield attributes i.e. number of fruits per plant, fruit length (cm), fruit diameter (cm), average fruit weight (g), fruit yield per plant (g), fruit yield (q/ha) were also recorded maximum. Quality parameters i.e. protein content (%) and fibre content (%) in fruit were also recorded highest. It was followed by treatment T3 (Zinc 5.0 kg/ha) in all the treatments of okra. It can be concluded that the highest result of growth, yield attributing characters, yield and quality attributes were recorded by the treatment T7 (Boron 1.5 kg/ha) followed by treatment T3 (Zinc 5.0 kg/ha) as compared to other treatments.