Soil Test Crop Response on Soil Health Parameters and Yield Attributes of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) var. Kuber

Abstract

The investigation was conducted on Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) based Integrated Plant Nutrient System (IPNS) technology, where the fertilizer doses are customized according to the anticipated crop yield, considering the crop's nutrient requirements and the contributions from soil, fertilizers, and organic manures. The field trial took place at the Soil Science research farm of Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, during the zaid season of 2023. The soil under experimentation had a sandy loam texture. The setup followed a randomized block design with varying levels of NPK (0%, 50%, & 100%), FYM (20, 25, & 30 t ha-1), Fe and Zn (15, 20, & 25 kg ha-1) respectively. The outcomes from the T9 treatment - [115:112:75 Kg ha-1 + 25 t ha-1 FYM + 25 kg ha-1 Fe and Zn] exhibited superior plant height, number of branches plant-1, number of leaves plants-1, number of fruits plant-1, and overall fruit yield. No significant differences were noted in the yield and growth of okra under the control conditions. The application of organic manures alone or in combination with full NPK substantially enhanced the growth and total yield parameters of okra. Among all treatments, the simultaneous application of 100% NPK, 100% FYM, and 100% Fe & Zn displayed the most remarkable influence on the growth of okra.