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

An 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 T-0 (control), T-1 (Azotobacter biofertilizer), T-2 (Azospirillum biofertilizer), T-3 (Azotobacter + Azospirillum biofertilizers), T-4 (Azotobacter + Cowdung 5 t ha(-1)), T-5 (Azospirillum + 5 t ha(-1) cowdung), T-6 (Azotobacter + Azospirillum + 5 t ha(-1) cowdung), T-7 (5 t ha(-1) cowdung), and T-8 (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 T-4, T-5, T-6, and T-8 than the others. In all the parameters, T-8 gave the similar result with biofertilizers in combination with cowdung treatments, and T 7 was identical with To (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 T-8 (60 % N) in this study. This suggests that T-4 or T-6 or T-5 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.