Vol. 12, Issue 7 (2023)

Author(s):
Dixita Padhiyar, DR Kanzaria, HJ Senjaliya and HV Vasava

Abstract:
The experiment titled "Effect of different sowing times and planting distances on the growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)" was carried out during the summer season of 2022 at the Polytechnic in Horticulture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh. The study used a Randomized Block Design with the factorial concept, consisting of nine treatment combinations. These combinations included three sowing times: 2^nd fortnight of February (S₁), 2^nd fortnight of March (S2), and 2^nd fortnight of April (S₃), along with three planting distances: 45 cm × 30 cm (D₁), 60 cm × 30 cm (D2), and 75 cm × 30 cm (D₃). Each treatment combination was replicated three times. The results of the experiment demonstrated that okra seeds sown during the 2^nd fortnight of March (S2) exhibited the most favorable outcomes in various growth and yield parameters. These included the tallest plant height (98.64 cm), the highest number of primary branches (2.18), the largest number of flowering nodes (16.87), the longest days to the last picking (90.11), the longest pod length (12.91 cm), widest pod diameter (2.10 cm), the greatest number of pods per plant (15.22), the heaviest average weight of 10 pods (120.52 g), highest total number of pickings (13.78), as well as the most substantial marketable pod yield of 1.92 kg per net plot and 4.62 t per hectare. However, when okra seeds were sown during the 2^nd fortnight of April, it resulted in the shortest time to 50% flowering (42.89) and the earliest first picking (46.78). Regarding the planting distance, the configuration of 75 cm × 30 cm exhibited the tallest plant height (82.20 cm), longest pod length (11.94 cm), widest pod diameter (1.96 cm), highest number of pods per plant (13.86), and heaviest average weight of 10 pods (112.54 g). Nonetheless, the treatment with a planting distance of 45 cm × 30 cm (D₁) produced the greatest marketable pod yield, with 1.88 kg per net plot and 4.36 t per hectare.