BANGLADESH RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS JOURNAL

ISSN: 1998-2003, Volume: 10, Issue: 2, Page: 120-124, July - October, 2014

Review Paper
PHOSPHORUS LEVELS ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF OKRA
(Abelmoschus esculentus)

M.J. U ddin1, M. H. Akand1, S. I slam2, H. Mehraj1 and A FM Jamal U ddin1*

M.J. U ddin, M. H. Akand, S. Is lam, H. M ehraj and AFM Jamal U ddin ( 2014). Phos phorus Levels on Growth and Yield
of Okra ( Abelmoschus esculent us). Banglades h Res . Pub. J. 10( 2): 120-124. Ret rieve from
htt p://www.bdres earchpublicat ions.com/admin/journal/upload/1410015/1410015.pdf

Abstract
An ex periment w as conduct ed at Hort icult ure Farm, Sher-e-Bangla Agricult ural
U niv ersity, Bangladesh from April t o August 2012 t o ev aluat e t he different doses of
nit rogen on grow t h and y ield of okra (BARI Dherosh-1). Experiment consist ed four
levels of phosphorus v iz. P0: 0 (cont rol), P1: 70, P2: 80 and P3: 90 kg P2O5/ ha using
Rando mized Complet e Block Design w it h t hree replicat ions. Maximum plant height
(87.8 cm), number of leav es (45.4/plant), leaf lengt h (29.5 cm), pet iole lengt h (23.2
cm), st em diamet er (2.3 cm), int ernode lengt h (14.8 cm), number of branches
(4.0/plant ), fruit lengt h (17.0 cm), fruit diamet er (1.9 cm), number of flow er buds
(30.2/plant ), number of fruit s (22.5/plant) w eight of individual fruit (11.4 g), fresh
w eight of leav es (294.5 g/plant), dry matt er cont ent of leav es (11.4%) and y ield
(7.32 kg/plot and 17.0 t /ha) w as found from P 2 w hereas minimum from P0.
Key Words: Okra, nitrogen levels growth and yield.

Introduction
Okra (Abelmoschus esculent us) belongs to Malvaceae family is a popular vegetable and
phosphorus is an important macronutrient for plant. Plants ex hibit numerous physiological
and metabolic adaptations in response to seasonal variations in phosphorus content.
Phosphorus deficiency is characterized by low ATP content and ATPase activity which are
partly responsible for drastic reduction in growth and yield w hile enhanced activities of
acid and alkaline phosphatases which increase the availability of P in P-deficient seasons
(Supatra and Mukherji, 2004). Crop growth is continuously threatened by phosphorus
limitation on most tropical and temperate soils (Akinrinde and Adigun, 2005). Use of
proper doses of fertilizer is one of the most important ways of better production of okra
and phosphorus fertilizer has a great effect in this respect (Yogesh and Aora, 2001). Effect
of phosphorus application on green fruit yield in okra has been conflicting and
phosphorus fertilization can influenced in fruiting development (Mohanta, 1998).
Considering these facts current study was undertaken to determine the optimum levels of
phosphorus on growth and yield of okra.
Materials and Methods
The experiment w as carried out at Horticulture Farm, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University,
Dhaka, Bangladesh during April to August 2012. BARI Dherosh-1 w as used in the
ex periment. Four levels of phosphorus fertilizer viz. P0: 0 kg P2O5/ha (control), P1: 70 kg
P2O 5/ha, P2: 80 kg P2O 5/ha, P3: 90 kg P2O 5/ha were used by follow ing Randomized
Complete Block Design w ith three replications. The size of the each plot was 2.4 × 1.8 m.
The distance maintained between two blocks and two plots were 1.0 and 0.5 m,
respectively. Cowdung @ 10t/ha, nitrogen @ 120 kg/ha and potassium @ 150kg/ha were
used. Nitrogenous fertilizers were splitted and applied at 15, 30 and 45 days after sowing
(DAS) and other were applied as basal dose. Seeds were sown in row s having a depth of
2-3 cm with maintaining distance from 30 cm and 60 cm from plant to plant and row to
row respectively. Five plants were randomly selected from the middle rows of each unit
plot for collecting data. Data were collected on plant height, leaves number, petiole

*Corres ponding Aut hors ’ Email: jamal4@yahoo.com

1 Depart ment of Hort icult ure, Sher-e-Bangla Agricult ural U niversit y, Dhaka-1207, Ban glades h

2 Depart ment of Agronomy, Sher-e-Bangla Agricult ural U nivers it y, Dhaka-1207, Banglades h

 121
Phosphorus Levels on Growt h and Yield of Okra

length, stem diameter, leaf length, number of branches/plant, internode length, fresh
weight/plant, dry weight/plant, days to flowering, number of flower buds/plant, number of
fruits/plant, w eight of individual fruits, fruit length, fruit diameter, yield/plot and yield/ha.
Stem and fruit diameter was measured with digital calipers (DC-515).
The final dry content was taken by follow ing formula:
Dry weight of leaves (g)
Dry matter content of leaves = × 100
Fresh weight of leaves (g)
Collected data were statistically analyzed by using MSTAT-C computer package program
and difference among treatments was estimated by Least Significance Differences (LSD)
test at 5% level of probability (Gomez and Gomez, 1984).

Results and Discussion

Plant height: Tallest plant was found from P2 (87.8 cm) which w as statistically identical w ith
P3 (84.7 cm) while shortest from P0 (71.0 cm) at 80 DAS (Fig. 1a). Bhai and Singh (1998)
reported that P application significantly increased the plant height.
Number of leaves/plant: M aximum number of leaves w as observed in P2 (45.4/plant)
which w as statistically identical w ith P3 (44.1) while minimum from P0 (38.0/plant) at 80 DAS
(Fig. 1b).
Length of leaf: Longest leaf w as found in P2 (29.5 cm) w hereas shortest from P0 (20.0 cm) at
80 DAS (Fig. 1c).
Length of petiole: Longest petiole was found from P2 (23.2 cm) which w as statistically
identical with P3 (22.5 cm) whereas shortest was from P0 (18.1 cm) at 80 DAS (Fig. 1d).
Stem diameter: Max imum stem diameter was found from P2 (2.3 cm) w hile minimum from
P0 (1.6 cm) at 80 DAS (Fig. 2a).
Internode length: Longest internode w as found from P2 (14.83 cm) w hich was statistically
identical with P3 (14.7 cm) whereas shortest from P0 (10.3 cm) at 80 DAS (Fig. 2b).
Number of branches/plant: Max imum number of branches was found in P2 (4.0/plant)
which was statistically identical w ith P3 (3.9/plant) w hile minimum from P0 (3.0/plant) at 80
DAS (Fig. 3a). Akinrinde and Adigun (2005) reported that okra plants were more efficient in
their use of P.
Fruit length: Longest fruit was found from P2 (17.1 cm) w hich w as statistically identical w ith
P3 (16.3 cm) w hereas shortest from P0 (13.3 cm) (Fig. 3b). Increasing levels of phosphorus
up to 90 kg/ha increased length of fruit (Lax man et al., 2004). The results resemble to those
of Arora et al., (1991) and Naik and Srinivas, (1992) w ho reported that pod length in okra
was significantly improved by application of P.
Fruit diameter: M aximum fruit diameter w as found from P2 (1.9 cm) w hich w as statistically
identical w ith P3 (1.8 cm) whereas minimum from P0 (1.5 cm) (Fig. 3b). Increasing levels of
phosphorus up to 90 kg/ha increased fruit diameter (Laxman et al., 2004).

100 50
Leaves number/plant.
Plant height (cm).

70 35

40 20

10 (a) (b) 5

http://www.bdresearchpublications.com/journal/
Uddin et al. 122

30 24

Petiole length (cm).

Leaf length (cm).

20 18

10 12

(c) (d)

0 6
0 20 40 60 80 20 40 60 80 100
Days after sowing (DAS) Days after sowing (DAS)
P0 P1 P2 P3 P0 P1 P2 P3
Fig. 1. Response of okra to different levels of phosphorus on (a) plant height, (b)
leaves number/plant, (c) leaf length and (d) petiole length

3.0 15.0

Internode length (cm).

Stem diameter (cm).

2.0 10.0

1.0 5.0

(a) (b)

0.0 0.0
0 20 40 60 80 20 40 60 80 100
Days after sowing (DAS) Days after sowing (DAS)
P0 P1 P2 P3 P0 P1 P2 P3
Fig. 2. Effect of phosphorus levels of okra on (a) stem diameter and (b) internode
length
Number of branches/plant.

5.0
18.0 2.2
Fruit diameter (cm).
Fruit length (cm).

3.5 15.0 1.9

2.0 12.0 1.6

0.5 (a) 9.0 (b) 1.3

20 40 60 80 P0 P1 P2 P3
Days after sowing (DAS) Different levels of phosphorus
P0 P1 P2 P3 Fruit length (cm) Fruit diameter (cm)

Fig. 3. Response of okra to different levels of phosphorus on (a) number of

branches/plant and (b) fruit length and diameter

http://www.bdresearchpublications.com/journal/
 123
Phosphorus Levels on Growt h and Yield of Okra

Days required for flowering: Early flowering was observed from P2 (39.0 days) which w as
statistically identical w ith P3 (39.5 days) while late flowering from P0 (43.8 days) (Table 1).
Gill et al., (1974) reported that number of days for flowering w as reduced due to
application of the proper level of phosphorus.
Number of flower buds/plant: Max imum number of flower buds was found from P2
(30.2/plant) w hich was statistically similar with P3 (29.1/plant) w hile minimum from P0
(23.7/plant) (Table 1).
Number of fruits/plant: M ax imum number of fruits was found from P2 (22.5/plant) which
was statistically identical w ith P3 (21.5/plant) w hereas minimum from P0 (16.5/plant) (Table
1). Increasing levels of phosphorus up to 90 kg/ha increased number of fruits/plant
(Laxman et al., 2004) while Sultana (2002) reported that the optimum rate of P plant for
okra w as 80 kg/ha. But Chauhan and Gupta (1973) reported that increasing level of
phosphorus did not show any significant difference for the number of fruits/plant.
Weight of individual fruit: M aximum weight of individual fruit was found from P2 (11.4 g)
whereas minimum from P0 (9.9 g) (Table 1). Increasing levels of phosphorus up to 90 kg/ha
increased mean fruit weight (Laxman et al., 2004) while Majanbu et al. (1985) found no
response of phosphorus fertilization to individual fruit weight of okra.
Fresh weight of leaves/plant: Max imum fresh weight of leaves w as found from P2 (294.5
g/plant) w hich w as statistically identical w ith P3 (288.7 g/plant) w hereas minimum from P0
(248.5 g/plant) (Table 1).
Dry matter content of leaves: Max imum dry matter was found from P2 (11.4%) which was
statistically identical with P3 (10.8%) w hile minimum from P0 (8.6%) (Table 1). A successive
level of P application
Yield/plot: Max imum yield was found from P2 (7.3 kg/plot) whereas minimum from P0 (4.8
kg/plot) (Table 1).
Yield/ha: M ax imum yield was found from P2 (17.0 t/ha) w hile minimum from P0 (11.2 t/ha)
(Table 1). Increasing levels of phosphorus up to 90 kg/ha increased yield/ha (Laxman et
al., 2004). Okra plants were more efficient in their use of P in terms of yield/ha (Akinrinde
and Adigun, 2005).
Table 1. Response of okra to different levels of phosphorus on crop duration, yield related
attributes and yieldX
Dry
Fres h w eight
W eight matt er
No. of of
Days t o No. of of cont ent Yield Yield/ha
Treat ment s flow er leaves /plant
flow ering fruits /plant individual of ( kg)/plot (t on)
buds /plant at harvest
fruits ( g) leaves
( g)
( %)
P0 44.4 a 23.7 c 16.5 c 9.9 c 248.5 c 8.6 c 4.84 11.2 d
P1 42.2 b 28.4 b 20.2 b 10.6 b 280.0 b 10.2 b 6.21 14.4 c
P2 39.0 c 30.2 a 22.5 a 11.4 a 294.5 a 11.4 a 7.32 17.0 a
P3 39.5 c 29.1 ab 21.5 a 11.2 a 288.7 ab 10.8 a 6.93 16.0 b
LSD0.05 0.9 1.7 1.8 0.5 13.3 0.7 0.7
CV% 5.6 6.4 6.2 6.7 8.4 7.5 6.1
XI n a column mean values having s imilar lett er(s ) are s t at istically s imilar and t hos e having diss imilar lett er(s ) differ

s ignificant ly as per 0.05 level of s ignificance

Conclusion
Finally it can be stated that application of 80 kg P2O5/ha was found as the best among
the treatments.
References
Akinrinde, E.A. and Adigun, I.O. 2005. Phosphorus-use efficiency by pepper (Capsicum
frutescens) and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) at different phosphorus fertilizer
application levels on two tropical soils. J. Appl. S ci., 5(10): 1785-1791.

http://www.bdresearchpublications.com/journal/
Uddin et al. 124

Bhai, K.L. and Singh, A.K. 1998. Effect of different levels of phosphorus, GA3 and picking on
seed production of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench). Indian J. S ci., 38(3-
4): 119-122.
Gomez, K.A. and Gomez, A.A. 1984. Statistical Procedure for Agricultural Research (2 nd
edn.). Int. Rice Res. Inst., A Willey Int. S ci., 3: 28-192.
Lax man, S., Dhaka, R.S. and M ukherjee, S. 2004. Flowering and fruiting of okra
[Abelmoschus esculent us (L.) Moench] as influenced by application of nitrogen,
phosphorus and gibberellic acid. J . Eco Physiol., 7(3/4): 181-185.
Mohanta, H.C. 1998. Effect of phosphorus and genotype on the yield and yield
contributing characters of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench). Fert. Res.,
6(3): 257-267.
Supatra, S. and M ukherji, S. 2004. Alterations in activities of acid phosphatase, alkaline
phosphatase, ATPase and ATP content in response to seasonally varying Pi status in
okra (Abelmoschus esculent us). J. Envir. Biol., 25(2): 181-185.
Yogesh, M.D. and Arora, S.K. 2001. Effect of N, P and sow ing date on okra (cv. Parbani
Kranti) yield. Indian J. Agron., 36(9): 81-86.
Sultana, S. 2002. Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and boron on okra. M.
S Thesis. Department of Soil Science, Banghabandhu Sheikh M uijibur Rahman Agril.
Univ., Gazipur.
Gupta, A., K. Srinivas and V. Shukla. 1981. Response of okra (Abelmoschus esculent us L.
Moench) to plant spacing and nitrogen, phosphorus fertilization. Indian J . Hort. S ci.
38 (3-4): 218-222.
Majanbu, S., VB Ogunlela and MK Ahmed. 1986. Response of two okra (Abelmoschus
esculent us L. Moench) varieties to fertilizers: Growth and nutrient concentration as
influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus application. Fert ilizer Research 8(3): 297-
306.
Gill, H.S., P.C. Thakur and T.C. Thakur. 1974. Effect of itrogen and phosphorus on seed yield
of sweet pepper. ndian J . of Hort. 31: 74-78.
Arora, S.K., B.R. Sharma and N. Kumar. 1991. Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization
on growth and yield components in okra (Abelmoschus esculent us L.). Haryana J .
of Hort. S ci. 20(3-4): 261-266.
Naik, L.B. and K. Srinivas. 1992. Influence of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization on seed
crop of okra. Indian Journal of Agronomy, 37(4): 769-771.

http://www.bdresearchpublications.com/journal/