The Comparison Between The Conventional Fertilizer Practice And Eco-Friendly Fertilizer Practices On Plant Growth And Yield Of OKRA

Abstract

Okra (Abelmoschus esculenthus) is a valuable vegetable crop, but selecting the best fertrhzer practices remains a challenge. Although chemical fertilizers (CF) boost yields, they may harrn the environment. Conventional Organic feftilizers and Bio-fertilizers offer sustainable alternatives, but their effectiveness is lower than the Chemical fertilizer. The main objective of this experiment was to compare the effect of conventional fertilizer practices and eco-friendly fefiihzer practices on plant growth and yield of Okra. A plot experiment was car:ried out using three types of ferlilizers and combinations namely, Chemical fertilizer, Modern Organic pellet fertllizer and Biofilm bio-fertilizers. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replicates having the following treatments: Tt Chemical fertrhzer alone (HORDI Recommendation), Tz - Organic pellets alone (LBF Recommendation), T: - Chemical feftlhzer 50oA + Biofilm Biofertilizer, Tq * Organic pellet fertllizer 50yo + Biohlm Biofertilizer, Ts - Chemical fertilizer 50yo + Organic pellet fertrlizer 50o/o,Te- Chemical Ferlilizer 33Yo + Organic pellet ferlilizer 33% + Biofilm Biofertilizet, Tt - Control (no fertilizer). The results showed that different fertilizer practices and combinations had significant effects on growth and yield parameters of Okra over the control. Based on the results, T1 (Chemical ferlilizer), Ts (Chemical fertrhzer 50o/o + Organic pellet fertllizer 50%) and To (Chemical Fertilizer 33"/o + Organic pellet fertilizer 33o/o + Biofilm Bio-fertilizer) treatments showed comparable results for the growth and yield of Okra. Further studies under field conditions should be conducted to confirm these results. With the current findings, eco-friendly fertilizer practices can be recommended for the reduction of chemical fertilizers dependency while maintaining growth and yield of Okra.