Department of Plant Sciences

An experiment was undertaken at District Seed Farm of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal, India to evaluate the F1 hybrids of okra under reduced level of chemical fertilizers (50% of recommended dose of fertilizers) with two sources of organic manures (Cow-dung manure @ 25 t/ha and neem cake @ 2.5 t/ha). The results indicated significant differences among the hybrids and between the sources of organic manures for both vegetative growth characters such as plant height, number of primary branches/plant and nodes/plant; reproductive behaviour of the plant, i.e. days to 50% flowering as well as fruit characters like fruit length, girth, weight, fruits/plant and marketable fruit yield. Based on the results it may be concluded that under the agro climatic conditions of West Bengal, the hybrids NOH-15, Makhamalli, Sun 40, Sun 08, Mahyco Bhendi No.12, Mahyco Bhendi No.10, Mahyco Bhendi No.1 as well as Vijaya (99.36 – 107.43 q/ha) can be recommended for commercial cultivation under reduced level of chemical fertilizers during summer. Application of neem cake @ 2.5 t/ha along with reduced level of fertilizer (50% RDF) is very much beneficial for better vegetative growth with increasing the yield in okra.