RESPONSE OF OKRA TO DRIP IRRIGATION AND MULCHING IN TARAI CONDITION OF UTTARAKHAND

R. CHANDRA¹*, P.K. SINGH^2
1Department of Soil & Water Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering, Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, 848125, Bihar, India
²Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Udham Singh Nagar, Pantnagar, 263153, Uttarakhand, India
* Corresponding Author : ravish.cae@gmail.com

Received : 22-06-2019     Accepted : 13-08-2019     Published : 15-08-2019
Volume : 11     Issue : 15       Pages : 8854 - 8857
Int J Agr Sci 11.15 (2019):8854-8857

Keywords : Drip irrigation, Mulching, Okra
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, 848125, Bihar, India and Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Udham Singh Nagar, Pantnagar, 263153, Uttarakhand, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

The study was conducted to evaluate the response of okra under different levels of drip irrigation and polythene mulching on crop growth, yield and water use of okra. The treatments included three irrigation levels of drip irrigation, (100% (T1), 80% (T2) and 60% (T3) of full irrigation requirement) and furrow irrigation (T4). The experiment also had same set of treatments under-mulched conditions (T5, T6, T7, T8). The study indicated that drip irrigation in combination with mulching, significantly increased plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves per plant and fruit yield of okra crop. The percentage increase in the yield due to mulches were 66.8 %, 65.8 %, 111.8 % and 131.1 % higher for mulched treatments T5, T6 T7and T8, respectively, over the corresponding non-mulched treatments. The drip irrigation in combination with mulching increased the okra yield significantly over furrow irrigation to the tune of 60-167 %. The study recommends drip irrigation with mulch for higher land and water productivity of okra grown during zaid season.

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