Effect of crop geometry on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) cultivars under different irrigation levels and mulching

A field experiment was conducted during 2009, at College of Agriculture, Bikaner to evaluate the effect of crop geometry on flower, pod characters, insect incidence and economics of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) cultivars under different irrigation levels and mulching. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block with 4 x 2 x 3 split-split plot arrangement of treatments, each replicated three times. The seeds were sown under two plant geometries at 40 x 20 cm and 75 x 40 cm spacing between row to row and plant to plant, respectively with four irrigation volumes viz., surface irrigation (1.0 V), drip irrigation 1.0 V, drip irrigation 0.8 V and drip irrigation 0.6 V, in main plots, two cultivars viz., ‘Arka Anamika’ and ‘Tulsi’ assigned to sub plots and three types of mulching viz., no mulch, organic mulch (Aerva persica) and black polythene (25 micron) in sub-sub plots. Results indicated that lesser days were taken to first flower initiation (43.5 days), pod initiation (48.5 days) and first picking (51.5 days) with maximum net returns (87469) and B:C ratio (2.32) were observed in plants spaced at 40 x 20 cm. Higher yield attributes viz., number of pods/plant (18.9), length of pod (11.9 cm), weight of pod (9.4 g), pod yield/plant (147.3 g) and minimum jassid incidence (3.2 jassids/three leaves) were observed in plants spaced at 75 x 40 cm whereas, number of pickings (10.7) and pod yield/ha (159.9 q/ha) were observed more in plants spaced at 40 x 20 cm. Irrespective of crop geometry, cultivar ‘‘Tulsi’’ took minimum days to flowering. ‘Tulsi’ cultivar also recorded highest pod yield, net returns, B:C ratio and lesser jassid population with 0.6 volume of drip irrigation under organic mulch.