Performance of Mulching and Fertigation on Nutrient Uptake and Nutrient Use Efficiency in Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus L. Moench) for Seed Production

Abstract

Application of water soluble fertilizer @ T4-150:75:150 NPK kg/ha through fertigation either with mulch (14.05q/ha) or non-mulch (11.83q/ha) recorded significantly higher seed yield than fertilization through soil application (9.92 q/ha). The increased seed yield of 16.91 and 10.14 per cent was noticed in fertigation with mulch or without mulch treatment over soil application, respectively. NPK fertigation @150:75:150kg per ha with mulch (T4) resulted in higher NPK uptake in stem (63.49, 14.12&121.42 kg/ha), leaves (117.65 19.42&122.43 kg/ha) and in fruits (146.79 28.05&162.66 kg/ha), respectively than the fertilizer applied through soil at harvest. Maximum fertilizer use efficiency and water use efficiency were recorded in the treatment with integrated application of fertigation and mulch.