Influence of humic acid application on phenology, leaf area and production duration of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) cultivars
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Abstract
Response of four okra cultivars (Sabz Pari, Green Star, Arka Anamika and Pusa Sawani) to four humic acid levels (10, 20, 30 and 40 kg ha-1) along with control were studied during April-August, 2015 at Dargai, District Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan. The experiment was performed in randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement. Different levels of humic acid were prepared and soil applied before seed sowing. Results indicated that cultivar Arka Anamika showed minimum days to emergence (6.87), first flowering (42.60 days), first picking (48.80 days) and maximum single leaf area (150.43 cm2) and longer production duration (74.00 days) while cultivar Pusa Sawani showed maximum number of leaves (27.87). The maximum oven dried leaf weight (1.10 g) was noticed in cultivar Sabz Pari. Applications of humic acid @ 20 kg ha-1 showed minimum days to first flowering (47.75), first picking (47.75 days), maximum leaf area (150.25 cm2), oven dried single leaf weight (1.23 g) and longer production duration (74.50 days). The application of humic acid @ 30 kg ha-1 produced maximum (28.25) number of leaves plant-1. While non-significant effect on days to emergence was observed. On the basis of current experiment, it can be recommended that cultivar Arka Anamika should be used with the application of humic acid @ 20 kg ha-1 under the agroclimatic conditions of Dargai, district Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan to attain better growth for earlier and prolong production duration of okra for higher yield.
Keywords: Humic acid levels; Okra cultivars; Phenology