Science Letters

Integrated use of biogas slurry and chemical fertilizer to improve growth and yield of okra

Saliha Maqbool a, Anwar ul Hassan a, Muhammad Javed Akhtar a, Muhammad Tahir b

a Institute of Soil & Environmental sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Punjab Pakistan

b Department of Soil Science & SWC, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Abstract

Biogas slurry is not only the environment friendly organic fertilizer, but it is also efficient utilization of waste material, in this era of dire need of sustainable agriculture. A study was conducted to evaluate the integrated effect of biogas slurry and chemical fertilizer on growth, yield and quality of okra. Fresh and 30 days old biogas slurry was used 400 and 800 kg ha-1 as soil conditioners along with 100% recommended nitrogen (N) , and applied to obtain 25, 50, 75 and 100% N from biogas slurry, while rest of N from chemical fertilizer. These treatments were compared with recommended dose of NPK. The results indicated that maximum yield of okra was obtained with treatment which received 50% N from recommended chemical NPK and 50% N from fresh biogas slurry. Similarly, plant height (15%), root length (23%), number of fruits per plant (25%) and fruit fresh weight (36%) were also significantly higher in this treatment compared with control where only recommended dose of chemical NPK fertilizers was applied. Comparing with other treatments the yield was significantly lower in the sole application of biogas slurry. It was concluded that application of biogas slurry in combination with chemical fertilizer could boost up the yield of Okra.

Keywords: Biogas slurry, chemical fertilizer, growth, integrated use, okra.

Received April 12, 2014; Revised June 01, 2014; Accepted June 02, 2014

Corresponding author: Saliha Maqbool; Email: saliha.soil@gmail.com; Phone: +92 0302 5793127