RESPONSE OF OKRA (ABELMOSECHUS ESCULENTUS (L.) MOENCH.) TO IRRIGATION METHODS AND MULCHING UNDER HOT ARID CONDITIONS

Abstract

Different irrigation methods and mulching materials were tested at CAZRI, RRS, Bikaner during 2009 and 2010 on okra crop under hot arid conditions. Irrigation methods viz., drip (I1) and furrow (I2) and mulching materials viz., plastic (M1), hessian cloth (M2), indigenous materials (M3) and no mulch (M4) were evaluated in Split plot design with three replications using the okra cv. Varsha Uphar. Among the various treatments drip irrigation and plastic mulch alone and their interaction resulted in maximum plant height, number of branches, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight, fruit yield per plant and yield per hectare. Drip irrigation increased 13.5 percent and 12.9 percent fruit yield/ha over furrow method in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Plastic mulch recorded the highest fruit yield/ha in both the year which was 10.2, 17.7 and 32.7 percent higher compared to hessian cloth, indigenous material and no mulch, respectively.