Performance of Abelmoschus esculentus L. cv Arka Anamika (IIHR Sel 10) grown in New Alluvail Region of West Bengal, India with different locally available Organic Manures

Abstract

Field experiments were set up in an acid alluvial sandy loam soil to evaluate relative efficacy of organic manures in improving productivity and pest tolerance of an okra crop cv Arka Anamika (IIHR Sel 10). Three commercial manures, processed municipality waste (PMW), vermicompost (VC) and oil cake pellets (OCP), were assessed in relation to farmyard manure (FYM) alone and in combination withmicrobial culture (FYM+MC). All were compared to commercial fertilizer (CF). Among the organic manures tested, FYM produced maximum fruit and shoot yield. The uptake of N, P and K and micro-nutrient in FYM treatment was significantly superior to all other commercial manuring and CF. Increase in fruit yield with FYM application was attributed to higher retentivity of soils for water and nutrients, and higher uptake of major and minor nutrients. However, the tolerance of crop-plants to attack by pests in terms fruit yield was highest in the treatment with FYM. The quantity and the proportion of N, P and K coupled with minor elements available from nutrient sources were mainly responsible for differences among nutrient sources. Varying influence of organic manures on soil properties also caused differences in the performance of nutrient sources