Response of Organic and Natural Farming Management Practices on Productivity and Profitability of Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

Abstract

The effects of different nutrition viz., organic, natural and their combinations were studied in okra for productivity and profitability analysis. Field experiments were conducted at Research Farm of the School of Organic Farming, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana for three years from 2019-2021. The experiment was comprised of different nutritional treatments viz., T1- 100% recommended N (nitrogen) from Farm yard manure (FYM), T2- natural farming (NF) practices, T3- 100% N from FYM + NF practices, T4-75% N from FYM + 25% N from vermicompost and T5- unfertilized control in main plots involving two sub-plots with paddy straw mulching (S2) and without mulching (S1) treatment following split plot design with three replications. Results revealed that maximum average plant height (81.23 cm), pod length (11.23 cm), no of branches per plant (8.43) and yield (96.04 q/ha) were recorded in T3 treatment involving combination of organic and natural farming practices whereas the minimum values were observed in T5 (unfertilized control) treatment. Results also showed that in subplots maximum average plant height (71.21 cm), pod length (10.87cm), no of branches per plant (7.66), TSS (6.50°Brix) and yield were recorded in S2 treatment (paddy straw mulching) than S1 treatment (without mulching). Overall, on the basis of economic perspective highest benefit cost ratio were obtained with FYM in main nutrition plots and with paddy straw mulch in sub plots.