INTERACTION EFFECTS OF NITROGEN AND POTASSIUM ON SOIL FERTILITY, YIELD, QUALITY AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE BY OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)
KrishiKosh
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Title |
INTERACTION EFFECTS OF NITROGEN AND POTASSIUM ON SOIL FERTILITY, YIELD, QUALITY AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE BY OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)
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Creator |
NAVEEN KUMAR, B
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Contributor |
PADMAJA DEPARTMENT, G
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Subject |
nitrogen, potassium, vegetables, yields, planting, nutrients, crops, fruits, productivity, biological development
NITROGEN, POTASSIUM, SOIL FERTILITY, YIELD, QUALITY, NUTRIENT, OKRA, Abelmoschus esculentus L. |
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Description |
The present investigation entitled “Interaction effects of nitrogen and potassium on soil fertility, yield, quality and nutrient uptake by okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)” was carried out under field conditions during 2011 in kharif season with a view to study the response of okra in terms of yield and nutrient uptake. The transformation of applied N and K into various fractions in relation to their availability was also studied besides monitoring the changes in available nutrient status. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with factorial concept consisting of sixteen treatment combinations with 4 levels each of nitrogen (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg N ha-1) and potassium (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg K2O ha-1). Nitrogen and potassium were applied as per treatment combinations. The recommended dose of P2O5 (60 kg ha-1) was applied uniformly to all the treatments. The soil (Alfisol) under study was sandy loam in texture, slightly alkaline (pH=7.8) in reaction, non saline (0.23 dS m-1) in nature and low in organic carbon (0.48 %), low in available nitrogen (226.8 kg N ha-1), medium in available phosphorus (38.63 kg P2O5 ha-1) and potassium (278.5 kg K2O ha-1). The effect of different treatments were evaluated in terms of dry matter production (30, 60 and 90 DAS) and okra pod yield. Plant samples were analyzed for their per cent nutrient composition with respect to N, P and K at 30, 60 and at 90 DAS and nutrient uptake was computed. The fresh okra pods were analyzed for ascorbic acid content and dry samples were analyzed for crude protein and crude fibre contents. Soil nutrient status with regard to available N, P2O5 and K2O were also studied at 30, 60 and 90 DAS of okra crop. The soil samples at harvest (90 DAS) were analyzed for inorganic N and K fractions. The results of the experiment revealed that there was significant increase in dry matter production, nutrient content, uptake and pod yield of okra with increase in levels of N and K. Among the different interactions (N×K), application of 180 kg N ha-1 + 90 kg K2O ha-1 (N3K3) recorded significantly highest total dry matter production (5152.9 kg ha-1) and pod yield (126.17 q ha-1). However, pod yield was on par with the yield obtained at N3K2 (124.83 q ha-1). The nutrient content and uptake of N, P and K by okra plants at all the growth stages viz., 30, 60 and 90 DAS were highest with N3K3 combination and the total N and K uptake values found to be 83.83 and 75.19 kg ha-1, respectively. With regard to quality parameters of okra, application of nitrogen and potassium significantly increased the ascorbic acid and crude protein content. While the levels of nitrogen decreased the crude fibre content and potassium levels increased the crude fibre content. The interactions did not show significant effect on quality of okra pods. The soil samples analyzed at 30, 60 and at 90 DAS of okra revealed that the effect of levels of nitrogen (N3), potassium (K3) and their interactions at higher levels (N3K3) were significantly superior over other levels. With regard to changes in soil available nutrient status, it was found that, there was an increase in total nutrient uptake and decrease in soil available N, P and K at 30-60 DAS and 60-90 DAS, which coincide with crucial growth period of crop. Among the different forms of nitrogen and potassium, both NH4-N and NO3-N forms of nitrogen and readily available forms of potassium viz., water soluble K and exchangeable K contributed to pod yield and total N and K uptake, which was evidenced by their significant correlation with these plant parameters. Though the pod yield recorded at N3K3 level was high, the benefit cost ratio in terms of money invested for one kilogram of fertilizer is not economical. Hence, keeping in view the requirement of nutrients viz., N, P and K at different growth stages of okra, nitrogen use efficiency and the net returns, it can be suggested that application of 120 kg N ha-1 combined with 60 kg K2O ha-1 i.e., N2K2 is optimum for better productivity, quality and economic returns which also reduces the cost on fertilizers applied to okra grown on light textured red sandy loam soils (Alfisols). |
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Date |
2016-06-06T12:42:38Z
2016-06-06T12:42:38Z 2012 |
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Type |
Thesis
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Identifier |
http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/66844
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Language |
en
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Relation |
;D9223
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Format |
application/pdf
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Publisher |
ACHARYA N. G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
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