Field efficiency of biofertilizers on the growth of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus [(L.) Moench])

AbstractAn experiment was carried out at the Farm of the Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh from March to July, 2001 to investigate the effect of biofertilizers on morpho‐physiological characters of okra. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. There were nine treatments such as T0 (control), T1 (Azotobacter biofertilizer), T2 (Azospirillum. biofertilizer), T3 (Azotobacter + Azospirillum. biofertilizers), T4 (Azotobacter + Cowdung 5 t ha–1), T5 (Azospirillum + 5 t ha–1 cowdung), T6 (Azotobacter + Azospirillum + 5 t ha–1 cowdung), T7 (5 t ha–1 cowdung), and T8 (60 % N). The experimental results revealed significant variations among the treatments in respect of morphological characters, e.g. plant height, number of leaves per plant, stem base diameter, tap root length, and physiological characters like root dry weight, leaf area index, and crop growth rate. Number of leaves per plant, stem base diameter, root length, root dry weight, leaf area index, and crop growth rate were larger in T4, T5, T6, and T8 than the others. In all the parameters, T8 gave the similar result with biofertilizers in combination with cowdung treatments, and T7 was identical with T0 (control). These experimental results revealed that morpho‐physiological characters of okra could be modified by the application of biofertilizer + cowdung. However, biofertilizers + cowdung treatments were comparable to T8 (60 % N) in this study. This suggests that T4 or T6 or T5 were more benificial in environmentally friendly okra cultivation and may be used as an alternative of inorganic N by saving cost of production and sustaining productivity.