http://dbtbiosafety.nic.in/guidelines/ okra.pdf Manuring and fertilization The farmyard manure should be mixed in soil at the time of land preparation along with whole quantity of P and K. Half of N should be added to the soil before sowing, while one-fourth before flowering as side-dressing and one- fourth in 3 consecutive foliar sprays (1% urea) at 10 days interval during fruiting. Okra responds to 150kg N/ha depending on genotype and soil fertility. Similarly soils deficient in P and K improve fruiting and fruit quality when these are applied to the soil externally. Moreover fruiting and fruit appearance are also improved. With
Transcript
http://dbtbiosafety.nic.in/guidelines/okra.pdf
Manuring and fertilizationThe farmyard manure should be mixed in soil at the time of land preparation along with whole quantity of P and K. Half of N should be added to the soil before sowing, while one-fourth before flowering as side-dressing and one-fourth in 3 consecutive foliar sprays (1% urea) at 10 days interval during fruiting. Okra responds to 150kg N/ha depending on genotype and soil fertility. Similarly soils deficient in P and K improve fruiting and fruit quality when these are applied to the soil externally. Moreover fruiting and fruit appearance are also improved. With the advent of high-yielding varieties and hybrids, their nutritional requirement has gone higher.AftercareThin out the closely germinated plants at one true leaf stage. Proper weed management in okra could save up to 90% crop losses due to weeds. A total of 3–4 weedings starting from 20
days after sowing are required till the crop covers the soil surface. Use of weedicides reduces the number of weedings to zero during summer and 1 during kharif (rainy) season. Fluchloralin (Basalin 48ec) @ 1.2kg/ha as Pendimethalin (Stomp 30ec) @ 0.75kg/ha as post sowing and pre-emergence soil surface spray gives initial control of dicot weeds, though one weeding may be needed in kharif crop.Okra could be taken in different cropping systems. In sequential cropping, potato–carrot–okra; okra–potato–tomato; cauliflower–tomato–okra; groundnut– greens–wheat–okra; okra–palak–potato–muskmelon and okra–radish–cauliflower– squash–cowpea give crop security and higher income/unit area. Okra + radish and okra + Frenchbean give higher returns than solo crop. They respond to higher doses of NPK indicating better utilization of fertilizers under intercropping. Okra could give 300–500% crop land-use efficiency as an intercrop in cassava and cucurbits. Growing okra–cowpea–maize, maize–okra–radish and okra–okra–radish reduces bacterial wilt in tomato and brinjal taken as succeeding crop.
IrrigationFirst irrigation should be given when first true leaf initiates in spring-summer and when it expands in kharif (rainy) season. Subsequent irrigations at 4–5 days interval are given to summer crop. If temperature goes around 40°C, frequent light irrigations are recommended to help proper fruiting. Thus soil should be kept moist and flooding or wilting of plants should be avoided. Drip irrigation saves around 85% water requirement though it is not yet commercial in okra. Furrow system is better than flood system. Mositure stress during flowering and fruit/seed setting causes around 70% crop losses. The nutrient uptake from soil is also at peak during fruit set and development stages. A water stress in the field during this period not only causes yield reductions but also affects the nutritional status of the fruits.Harvesting and Postharvest managementEarly harvesting gives lower yields of tender fruits with shorter shelf-life. In general, harvesting on every alternate day is advisable. A cheap hand glove or cloth bag should be used to protect fingers. Harvesting in the morning is
convenient. For distant markets, harvesting late during evening and transporting during night is also advisedThe fruits are graded. For processing industry and fresh fruit export 6–8cm long fruits are sorted out. Longer fruits are used for fresh market. For local market, fruits are cooled (preferably) and filled in jute bags or baskets, covered or sewed and then water sprinkled over it. This helps in cooling as well as in turgidity of fruits which tightens the pack and saves product from bruises, blemishes and blackening. In air-tight containers the fruits may turn pale during transit due to heat generated by them. For export, suitable size perforated paper cartons are taken and precooled fruits are packed and transported in refrigerated vans. Export market requires tender, dark green, straight, short (6–8cm) fruits.
OKRA
Introduction Crop varieties
Conventional practices
Suitable agro climatic conditions
Suitable soils Preparation of land Soil sterilization Planting
Drip system requirements
Irrigation scheduling
Advantages of drip irrigation
Application of fertilizers
Weed control Plant protection
Harvesting, yield and quality control
Post harvest handling and storage
Cost economics Contact Address Introduction Okra, or Ladies finger, which is also known as
‘ Bhindi ', is one of the important vegetables of India. It is grown throughout the tropical and sub-tropical regions and also in the warmer parts of the temperate regions. The nutritional value of 100g of edible okra is characterized 1.9 g protein, 0.2 g fat, 6.4 g carbohydrate, 0.7 g minerals and 1.2 g fibers. Okra has a good potential as a foreign exchanger crop and accounts for 60% of the export of fresh vegetables. It is cultivated in 0.349 M ha area with the production of 3.344 M mt and productivity of 9.6 mt/ha. The major okra producing states are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. In West Bengal, 0.662 M mt of Okra is produced from 58,400 ha with an average productivity of 11.4 mt/ha. The crop is also used in paper industry as well as for the extraction of fiber. Crop varieties
Okra ( Abelmoschus esculentum (L.) Moench.) plant belongs to the family Malvaceae. The crop varieties are Kamini, Pusa Mukhamali, Parbhani Kranti, etc. are commonly cultivated varieties.
Conventional practices Generally farmers grow locally available varieties with check basin or furrow method of
irrigation. Standard practices of nutrient and plant protection measures are rarely adopted. Suitable agro climatic conditions
Okra is a warm-weather crop. It can be grown in the temperature range from 22 o to 35 o C. Okra is susceptible to frost and cold injury below 12 o C temperature.
Suitable soils
Okra can be grown on a wide range of soils, having good internal drainage. Soils with high organic matter are preferred. Application of lime or dolomite may be done in acid soil to bring the pH in the range of 6.0 - 6.5.
Preparation of land
Intensive tillage is required for the land preparation of Okra. Deep (20-25 cm) ploughing followed by cross harrowing is done to make the soil friable and loose. One or two plankings are also needed to make the soil surface smooth and level.
Soil sterilization The sterilization of the soil can be achieved by both physical and chemical means. Physical control measures include treatments with steam and solar energy. Chemical control
methods include treatments with herbicides and fumigants. Soil sterilization can also be achieved by using transparent plastic mulch film, which is termed as soil solarization. During soil solarization, the incoming solar radiation penetrates the transparent plastic film and is absorbed in the soil. The absorbed radiation converts into heat energy, which raises the soil temperature and kills many soil-borne organisms including plant pathogens and pests. Planting
Sowing is done in two seasons: end of January for the summer crop and end of May for the rainy season crop. The seed rate for the summer crop is 18 to 20 kg /ha and 10 to 12 kg /ha for the rainy season crop. A spacing of 60 x 45 cm or 60 x 30 cm is generally adopted.
Drip system requirement Area: 1 ha, planting geometry: 60cm x 30cm.Variable Items: 75 mm F PVC/HDPE pipe-54 m, 75 mm F PVC/HDPE pipe-102 m, 12mm F LDPE Lateral-8400 m, Online dripper (2 l/h)-13,888 Nos., Control valve- 2 Nos., Flush valve- 2 Nos., Tees/bends-1 No., Accessories. Fixed Items : Screen filter (15m 3 / h) -1 No.,
The crop requires adequate moisture in the soil during summer months for faster growth. Drip irrigation is most suitable to the crop as it provides uniform moisture throughout the season. The daily water requirement of Okra crop is 2.4 l/day/4 plants during early growth stage and 7.6 l/day/4 plants during the peak growth stage. The irrigation system should be operated daily for 75 minutes during initial growth stage and for 228 minutes during peak growth of the crop with an emitter capacity of 2 lph. Irrigation on each day or on alternate days with On-line type of drippers is preferred.
Advantages of drip Irrigation
• Saves water. • Enhances plant growth and yield. • Saves energy and labour. • Most suited for soils having low water holding capacity on undulating terrain. • Reduces weed growth. • Improves fertilizer application efficiency. • Improves quality of produce. • Reduces salt concentration in the root zone.
In order to maximize the yield about 30 t of FYM, 350 kg Super phosphate, 125 kg Murate of Potash and 300 kg Ammonium sulphate should be applied in the rows before sowing for one hectare of land. Nitrogen should be applied through fertigation in three split doses.
Weed control
As Okra is harvested over a long period, weed control happens to be an important cultural operation. Shallow rooted inter-row cultivation and hand weeding may be used to minimize weeds in the inter row zone. Black plastic mulch may be used to suppress weed growth. The black plastic mulch also keeps the soil warm and encourages plant growth.
Plant protection
The control measures for insects, pests and disease depend upon type and intensity of the problems. The control measures for the main pests and diseases are stated below. Flea beetles is the major insect for Okra. This can be controlled with row covers or applications of Rotenone or Pyrethrin. Okra is susceptible to diseases such as Verticillium, Fusarium and several other fungal diseases in wet season. These diseases can be controlled by proper crop rotation and good garden sanitation practices.
Okra is harvested in 60 to 70 days after planting when pods are 2 to 3 inches long. At this stage the pods are still tender. Larger okra pods will tend to be tough and fibrous. Round-podded okra varieties remain tender at larger pod sizes and are good to use for slicing and freezing. Since, Okra grows very fast, it should be harvested every two days. The pods should not be allowed to mature on the plant because this will inhibit more pods from developing and reduce the productivity of the plant. Handling of okra should be done carefully because the pods bruise easily. The yield of Okra varies from 5 - 7 t/ha in summer to 8 - 10 t/ha in the rainy season.
Post harvest handling and storage
Okra has a short storage life. A fresh good pod can be stored for 7-10 days at 7-10 0 C temperature and 90-95% relative humidity. At temperatures below 7 0 C Okra is subjected to chilling injury, which results in surface discoloration, pitting and decay.
Cost economics Area: 1 ha. Planting geometry: 60cm x 30cm. Fixed cost of drip system: Rs. 99,366
Rate of interest 10.5%, Life of system 7.5 years Annual cost of drip System: Rs. 14,287Cost of cultivation: Rs. 11,500 Expected yield: 17 t/ha Expected Benefit Cost ratio: 2.2
Contact Address:
Dr. K. N. Tiwari Professor & Principal Investigator Precision Farming Development Centre Agricultural & Food Engineering Department IIT Kharagpur (W.B.) 721 302 Tel: 03222-283150 (O)/ 283151 (R) Fax: 03222-282244 (O) mail: [email protected][email protected]
cientific Name
: Abelmoschus Esculentus
Family : MalvaceaeColour : Green to dark greenCommon names
: 33 kcal, 7.6 g carbohydrate, 2.4 g protein, 70 mg calcium 31 mg vitamin C, 0.32 mg vitamin A, 0.17 mg vitamin B1, 0.21 mg vitamin B2, per 100 g serving.
Okra is a tall growing warm season annual with ornamental value, native to Africa. They are known by different names and comes in a number of varieties which vary in plant size, shape, pod type, colour and the number of spines. Dwarf varieties without spines and with smooth green pods are best for home gardens .
This upright plant grows 3-6 feet or more in height, some African varieties up to 12 feet, with a base stem of 4 inches in diameter. The woody stems bear leaves that are lobed and are generally hairy, some reaching up to 12 inches in length. The flowers are large around 2inches in diameter, yellowish hibiscus like, with red or purple centers which will last only for a day. Each blossom develops a small green pod. The fruits are green to dark green, sometimes yellow to red; long, conical and ridged. Okra contains moderate levels of vitamin A and
vitamin C.
Propagation and Planting : Propagation is through seeds. Soak seeds overnight in warm water before sowing to improve germination. Seeds can be sown 1 inch deep in pots or seed trays or directly on the ground 12 to 18 inches apart or three to four seeds per foot, in single rows. Seedlings are ready for transplanting when they reach a height of 10-15cm. Rows should be kept 3 to 5 feet apart. Plants branch out only when they reach a height of 30-40cm.
Okras grow well in warm weather. They should be planted in full sun. The soil for growing okras should be fertile, well drained, high in organic matter with a pH ranging from 6.0 to 6.5. Soil should be well prepared several weeks before planting by adding well rotted manure, compost or any other organic matter and a balanced fertilizer. Lime or dolomite can be added to get the required ph level of the soil.
The soil should be kept moist by regular watering. Water the soil not the plant directly. But the plant does not tolerate excessive moisture. Regular watering and light fertilization occasionally gives better yield. Always water
after fertilizing. Okra will start yielding about 60 days after planting. Fruits should be picked when they are 3-4 inches long and still tender. They become tough and stringy as they mature. Seeds for the next season can be obtained by not picking some of the pods till they reach the full size. Then dry the pods, shell the seeds and save the seeds in an airtight container.
Problems and Care : Keep the area around the okra plants weed free. Remove weeds and grass close to the plant carefully by hand without damaging the roots. Plants are susceptible to stem rot, so when you must water, soak the soil, not the plant. Yields will increase if plants are watered deeply. To reduce the potential for fruit rot problems, be sure that plants have good air circulation.
Some of the many insect pests which may attack okra are silver leaf whitefly, heliothis, stink bugs, rough bollworm, looper caterpillars and green vegetable bugs. Aphids and mites may also occur on okra crops. Aphids can be washed off with a steady stream of water or sprayed with soap spray. Stink bugs are more difficult to control. These can be hand picked
and destroyed. Loopers can be controlled with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis).
If the pods/ fruits are not picked on time and allowed to mature on the plant, flowering and further production will be reduced. Branch thinning or cutting off branches may be necessary to control dense growth of the plant.
![Genetic Variability and Correlation Studies in Okra [Abelmuschus Esculentus (L) Moench]](https://static.documents.pub/doc/80x56/5477eefeb4af9f96108b4a41/genetic-variability-and-correlation-studies-in-okra-abelmuschus-esculentus-l-moench.jpg)
