MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES AND YIELD ATTRIBUTES OF EXOTIC AND LOCAL OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus) CULTIVARS IN ACID SOIL

Abstract

Acid soils occur commonly in the high–rainfall areas along the hilly regions of Sylhet as a serious constraint to crop production and a primary yield-limiting factor. An experiment was conducted in the field laboratory of Department of Crop Botany and Tea Production Technology of Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet from March to October 2014 with a view to selecting the superior okra cultivar in relation to growth characters and yield attributes in acidic soil conditions. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. A total of 11 cultivars (treatments) viz. BARI Dherosh-1 (control), JO-1, JO- 2, JO-3, JO-4, Okra Onamika, Bankim, Durga, Indian, China and Thai were evaluated on the basis of growth and yield attributes. Orka Onamika, Bankim, Durga and Indian were collected from India, and JO-1, JO-2, JO-3 and JO-4 were collected from Japan. Significant variations were observed in all the parameters except the germination (%) and yield. Results revealed that high yielding cultivar BARI Dherosh-1 was taller at final harvest. Early flowering and maximum number of fruits plant observed in the cultivar Indian. Longest fruit length picked up in Bankim, whereas JO-1 showed the largest fruit diameter. The cultivar JO-1 cultivar showed superiority in germination capacity and number of seeds fruit -1 . JO-3 produced higher in individual fruit weight, number of branches and total number of flowers plant -1 . It appears attractive with ridge less, slender uniform size and shape, and was found tasty more due to softness and less fiber content. Regarding fruit yield, the cultivar JO-3, JO-2, Bankim and Okra Onamika performed better. Based on overall performance in morphological and yield attributes comparatively JO-3 proved to be promising cultivar in acid soil conditions of Sylhet.