Effect of plant spacing on fruit yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the Agronomy farm of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka to select the optimal spacing for obtaining high yield of okra ni sandy regosol. Treatments consisted of two different piant spacings of 90 x 60 cm recommended by the Department of Agriculture as acontrol and 60×60 cm spacing followed by farmers ni sandy regosol. It was carried out ni a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with two treatments and each treatment had replicated three times. Green immature (marketable) fruits were harvested at frequent intervals and data on mean length of fruit (cm), number of harvested fruits per plant, fresh and dry weights of green fruits per plant were recorded at each harvest and atso totat yield (tha) of green fruits was calculated. The results shor. I that mean length of fruit and number of harvested fruits per plant were significantly (P<0.01) affected by plant spacing and also the fresh and dry weights of green fruits were significantly (P<0.05) influenced. The mean fruit length decreased by 13% at 60x60 cm spacing when compared ot the control. At 60x60 mc spacing the fresh and dry weights of fruits per plant were decreased by 24% and 19% respectively. nI contrast, when compared ot the control, total fruit yield (t/ha) increased by 14% at 60×60 cm spacing. The total green (marketable) fruit yields were 6.94 t/ha at 90×60 cm and 7.92 t/ha at 60x60 cm spacing. When compared to the control, number of fruits per plant decreased at 60x60 cm spacing while total yields increased as plant population increased. The study was indicated that 60x60 cm spacing could be selected for higher fruit yield of okra ni sandy regasol