Okra (abelmoschus esculentus)
Physical properties of okra crop :-
The roots and stems of okra are used for clarification of sugarcane juice, from which gur or brown sugar is prepared.
Its ripe seeds are roasted, grind and used as a substitute for coffee in some countries.
Mature fruits and stems containing crude fibre are used in paper industries for making papers.
Seeds of the okra is also used for edible oil extraction.
Oil content of the seed is about 40%.
Okra are good source of vitamins, calcium, potassium, and other minerals. Such as phosphorus, sodium, sulphur, calcium, iron, potassium, magnisium, copper, vitamin c, oxalic acid etc.
Okra plant has a deep taproot system.
Okra is mainly propagated by seeds and has duration of 90 - 100 days.
Flowering is continuous after 30 - 45 days of sowing.
Okra requires a long, warm and humid growing period.
It is sensitive to frost and extremely low temperature.
For normal growth and development it requires 24 degree celcius to 28 degree celcius temperature.
PH of 6.0 - 6.8 is ideal for best growth.
Okra cultivation :-
Pre sowing :-
Soil management :-
Ph requires 6 - 6.5
Add well decomposed FYM @ 8 - 10 t/acre or vermicompost @ 5t/acre treated with trichoderma or pseudomonas @2kg/acre, incorporated at the time of field preparation at 15 - 20 days before transplanting.
Apply neem cake @ 100kg/acre at the time of transplanting for reducing nematodes and borer damages.
Seed sowing / Transplanting stage :-
Before sowing, soil testing sould be done to find out the soil fertility status and on the basis of soil testing nutrient will be incorporated.
Apply urea as a basal dose at the time of sowing.
Phosphorous fertilizer is applied at the time of last ploughing.
Seed treatment with Azotobacter and Phosphorous solubilizing bacteria (PSB) are used.
Weeding :-
At seedling stage keep the field weed free.
Vegetative Stage :-
Apply the second dose of N at 30 days after transplanting.
Micronutrient deficiency should be corrected by foliar spray.
Flowering starts almost 45 days after sowing
Weeding at the time of vegetative stage :-
Weeding and earthing up should be done at 25 - 30 days after sowing especially during rainy season.
Use one or 2 hand weeding at 15 - 30 days after planting
Use mulching paper.
Reproductive stage :- after 45 DAT the flowering and fruiting starts.
At this time nutrient management is must.
Micronutrient deficiency should corrected
About Nutritional deficiencies :-
1. Nitrogen :- Plants are stunted, leaves are smaller than normal, and becomes yellow in color, shoots becomes thin and pods are tough.
2. Phosphorous :- symptoms appear at the lower leaves first, plants are stunted, leaves are dark green with purple or reddish tints, reduced flowering and fruiting.
3. Potassium :- no. Of leaves becomes low, leaf margins becomes brown, yellow brown or scorched, abscission (detachment) of scorched leaves.
4. Magnesium :- lower leaves show yellow spots, veins are green.
5. Manganese :- leaves show chlorosis, yellowing between the veins and necrotic spots on younger leaves are appear.
6. Zinc :- no. Of leaves becomes low, smaller and mottled, stem is thin.
Necrosis, brown dead spots developed on leaves in severe cases.
Flowering and fruiting are after late or reduced.
7. Boron :- leaves become brittle, stunted plant growth, young leaves becomes smaller in size, malformed fruit appear.
8. Iron :- stunted plant growth, chlorosis occur in young leaves.
Okra / lady finger / bhindi varities :-
1. Parbhani Kranti
2. Arka Anamika (sel-10)
3. Kashi Kranti (URO - 22)
4. Varsha Uphar
5. Kashi Chaman
Sowing time, tips and tricks of okra / lady finger farming :-
Okra varieties are choosen (dwarf and long plant) according to season or climatic conditions,
Okra sown in August - September are developed very fast, because at that time the climatic conditions (moisture in the soil) are very suitable for its faster growth.
Hence, use dwarf variety at this time for ignoring the lodging problem.
And when planted in October - November there is less moisture in the soil and environment and due to cold weather or winter, okra plant grow slowly.
Hence, at this time use long plant variety for proper growth.
Spacing between plants :- 1 feet minimum
Spacing between rows :- 2.5 feet minimum
Or space depends on varieties.
Seed rate :- 2 - 2.5 kg per acre.
In winter season if plant population is high, then disease attacks is more specially powdery mildew, because of higher moisture and low air circulation between plants.
Summer season (zayd) :-
Sown at the end of january or starting of march.
At this time use dwarf varieties, because at the time of sowing in january end the plant grows slowly but when it matures for flowering (after 45 days) the growth of plant becomes faster dew to warm condition, then flower setting becomes low, hence, use dwarf variety for higher production.
Don,t use higher amount of urea or nitrogen fertilizer, because dew to this, the crop growth becomes faster and flower internodes becomes less due to this flower setting also becomes less.
This situation also created when there is Boron, Zinc or phosphorous defficiency.
Potash defficiency makes plant weaker, and when weather changes rapidly the disease attacks are high.
Management :-
between 30 - 35 days after sowing use nitrogen (in low amount) + phosphorous (in low amount) + sulphur + magnisium sulphate + zinc + calcium (if not applied in basal) + some micronutrients.
Calcium uses :-
1. Use calcium nitrate :- if growth stopped and yellowing in the plant, then use this.
2. Use chelated calcium :- if growth and greenery is good in plant, then use this.
When planted in mid August or August, then there is more disease attack and weeds in the filled dew to more moisture in the soil.
At that time proper fertilizer management is very important when flowering starts.
Use DAP + micronutrient + zinc + sulphur (compulsory, because sulphur maintains moisture).
Defficiency of calcium and boron, makes fruit circular or irregular instead of straight,
Hence, after 10 - 15 pickings, must spray boron and calcium in foliar.
Pest attack in okra / lady finger / bhindi :-
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