Impact of Nitrogen and Phosphorous Fertilizer on Growth, Yield and Yield Contributing Factors of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) Under Conditions of Mansehra, Pakistan

A field experiment was conducted at National Tea and high Value crops Research Institute Shinkiari (Mansehra), Pakistan during 2014 to evaluate the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus on yield and yield components of Okra (Var: Sabz Pari) The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with split plot arrangement having three replicates various levels of nitrogen and phosphorus were included, namely T1(0-0), T2(100-60 ), T3(100-90), T4(100-120), T5(150-60), T6(150-90) and T7(150-120) NP kg/ha. Urea and single superphosphate (SSP) were used as source of nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively. Significant response of various levels of nitrogen and phosphorus were observed. Results revealed that maximum days to 50 % emergence (6.66) were recorded in T1 as compared to 5 days to emergence in T7. Maximum germination percentage (89.66), days to 50% flowering (46), days to first fruits picking (49), plant height at first picking (81.66cm), No. of Pod per plant (23.33), were recorded in T7. The lowest 84.33% germination, 43.33 days to 50% flowering, 49.33 days to first fruits picking, 61 cm plant height at first picking, 13.33 No. of pod per plant and 37.33 No. of seeds per pod were recorded in T1. Maximum pod length (16.16 cm) and pod diameter (2.03 cm) was recorded in Treatment (T3) as compared to 12.50 cm pod length and 1.59 cm pod diameter in T1. Maximum 1000 seed weight of 59.06 g was recorded in T6 while minimum 1000 seed weight of 49.50 g was recorded in T1. Maximum fruits yield (10.48 tons ha-1) was recorded in T6, followed by T3, T5 while T1 produced the lowest fruits yield of 6.99 tons ha-1. It was concluded that application of N and P @ 150 kg N ha-1 + 90 kg P ha-1 in combination resulted in higher yield of Okra