Potential Impact of Spacing and Fertilizer Levels on the Flowering, Productivity and Economic Viability of Hybrid Bhendi (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> L. Moench) under Drip Fertigation System

doi:10.4236/ajps.2013.49219

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American Journal of Plant Sciences, 2013, 4, 1784-1789

http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2013.49219 Published Online September 2013 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/ajps)

Potential Impact of Spacing and Fertilizer Levels on the

Flowering, Productivity and Economic Viability of Hybrid

Bhendi (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) under Drip

Fertigation System

Govindarasu Rajaraman1, Lakshmanan Pugalendhi2

1Department of Vegetable Crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore,

India; 2Tapioca and Castor Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Yethapur, Tamil Nadu, India.

Email: [email protected]

Received July 1st, 2013; revised August 1st, 2013; accepted August 20th, 2013

Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original

work is properly cited.

ABSTRACT

Drip irrigation provides an efficient metho d of fertilizer delivery and allows precise timin g and uniform distribution of

applied nutrients. Fertilizer application through drip irrigation (fertigation) can reduce fertilizer usage and minimize

groundwater pollution due to fertilizer leaching from excessive irrigation. For this purpose, field experiments were car-

ried out in the farmers’ field at Thoppur, Dharmapuri District, Tamil Nadu, during 2010-2012 to study the effect of

spacing and fertilizer levels on the flowering, pod yield and economic viability of Bhendi Hybrid (Abelmoschus escu-

lentus L. Moench) under drip fertigation system. The treatments consisted of two spacings (M1—60 × 45 cm and M2—

60 × 30 cm) and eight drip fertigation levels (S1—Drip fertigation with WSF at 125 per cent RDF + Azophosmet +

Humic acid, S2—Drip fertigation with WSF at 100 per cent RDF + Azophosmet + Humic acid, S3—Drip fertigation

with WSF at 75 per cent RDF + Azophosmet + Humic acid, S4—Drip fertigation with WSF at 100 per cent RDF,

S5—Drip fertigation with SF at 125 per cent RDF + Azophosmet + Humic acid, S6—Drip fertigation with SF at 100 per

cent RDF + Azophosmet + Humic acid, S7—Drip fertigation with SF at 75 per cent RDF + Azophosmet + Humic acid,

S8—Drip fertigation with SF at 100 per cent RDF), and were replicated thrice in a split plot design. Results showed that

the earliest flowering (26.21 days), 50% flowering (51.31), number of flowers per plant (25.33) and highest pod yield of

596.70 g/plant, 24.91 t/ha was registered in drip fertigation at 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizers as water

soluble fertilizer combination with Azophosmet and humic acid under wider spacing. The economics of the study

clearly showed that drip fertigation at 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizers as water soluble fertilizer along

with Azophosmet and humic acid under wider spacing was found to record higher BCR of 2.99.

Keywords: Flowering; Pod Yield; Economics; Fertilizers; Spacing; Bhendi Hybrid

1. Introduction

Bhendi (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) is an im-

portant vegetable crop widely grown in the world. It is

belonging to the family Malvaceae and native to Africa

and the crop comes up well in tropical and sub tropical

lowland regions of Asia, America and warmer parts of

Mediterranean region. In Bhendi, it is most desirable and

also essential to achieve the twin objective of maximum

yield and the best quality simultaneously, and this could

be achieved largely by providing the optimum plant

population per unit area and balanced nutrition under

field conditions, which could be provided by optimizing

the spacing and fertilizer levels. Obviously, these two

factors will not only enhance the productivity, but also

decide the ultimate commercial success of vegetable

crops. It is essential to provide op timum plant population

density per unit area by adjusting the spacing levels in

bhendi crop, unlike in normal spacing the plants grown

in closer spacing exhibited more vertical growth but gave

less yield and poor quality for need of sufficient space,

light, nutrient and moisture due to heavier plant popula-

tion pressure [1]. Whereas, the plants grown in the wider

Potential Impact of Spacing and Fertilizer Levels on the Flowering, Productivity and Economic Viability

of Hybrid Bhendi (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) under Drip Fertigation System 1785

spacing exhibit more horizontal and continuous vegeta-

tive growth due to less population pressure per unit area

but they also give less yield per unit area [2]. However

the plants grown under normal spacing will have opti-

mum population density per unit area, which provides

optimum conditions for luxuriant crop growth and better

plant canopy area due to maximum light interception,

photosynthetic activity, assi milation and accumulation of

more photosynthates into plant system, and hence they

produce more yields with best quality traits [3]. Bhendi

responds well to the application of fertilizers and is re-

ported to be a heavy feeder of NPK. Efficient use of fer-

tilizer and water is highly critical to sustained agricul-

tural production. Drip irrigation is often preferred over

other irrigation methods because of the former’s high

water-application efficiency on account of reduced losses,

surface evaporation and deep percolation. Because of

high frequency water application, concentrations of salts

remain manageable in the rooting zone [4]. Fertilizers ap-

plied under traditional methods are generally not utilized

efficiently by the crop. In fertigation, nutrients are ap-

plied through emitters d irectly into the zon e of maximum

root activity, and consequently fertilizer-use efficiency

can be improved over conventional method of fertilizer

application. Generally crop respon se to fertilizer applica-

tion through drip irrigation has been excellent, and fre-

quent nutrient applications have improved the fertilizer-

use efficiency [5]. Bar Yosef and Sagiv [6] reported fer-

tilizer saving and increase in bhendi yield due to fertiga-

tion. For that purpose, a better understanding of the im-

pact of current practices on the crop and on losses of wa-

ter and nutrients from the root zone is necessary, which

should be obtained from a sound base of field experi-

mentation and environmental mechanics. Fertigation

through drip system is an innovative technology for

maximizing the yield. Though the cost of drip irrigation

unit was high, considering longer life period of drip irri-

gation system, the benefit accrued out of drip irrigation

will last for longer period. Fertigation involved an addi-

tional cost using water soluble fertilizers. However, the

additional cost towards WSF was largely compensated

by higher ne t return obtained by higher yield and quality

produces. High net return of bhendi could be assured by

increasing the productivity by adopting judicious man-

agement practices.

Keeping in this view, the presen t investigation was un-

der taken to assess the effect of of spacing and fertilizer

levels on the flowering, productivity and economics of

Bhendi Hybri d (COBhH1) under drip fert i g ation system .

2. Materials and Methods

A field trial was conducted to study the effect of spacing

and fertilizer levels on the flowering, productivity and

economic viability of Bhend i Hybrid (Abelmoschus escu-

lentus L. Moench) under drip fertigation system at Thop-

pur village in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu, India

during 2010-20 12 during two Rabi and one Summer sea-

sons. The experiment was laid out in split plot design

(SPD) with three replications. Recommended dose of fer-

tilizers (NPK @ 200:100:100 kg/ha), using liquid bio

inoculant (Azophosmet @ 0.5 per cent) @ 750 ml/ha,

Liquid bio stimulant (Humic acid @ 0.4 per cent) @ 2.5

litre/ha at 15 and 30 DAS through drip irrigation. WSF

100 per cent NPK applied through drip fertigation system

and SF 100 per cent P applied as basal and 100 per cent

N and K applied through drip fertigation. The water so-

luble fertilizer sources for supplying NPK through drip

irrigation were urea, poly feed, MAP and Multi-K. The

straight fertilizer sources for supplying NK through drip

irrigation were urea and MOP and the 100 per cent P

applied as SSP as basal. Bhendi hybrid (COBhH1) was

used for the study. The treatments consisted of two levels

of spacing in main plots and eight levels of drip fertiga-

tion in sub plots. The treatments consisted spacing of M1

(60 × 45 cm) and M2 (60 × 30 cm), drip f ertig ation levels

of S1—Drip fertigation with WSF at 125 per cent RDF +

Azophosmet + Humic acid, S2—Drip fertigation with

WSF at 100 per cent RDF + Azophosmet + Humic acid,

S3—Drip fertigation with WSF at 75 per cent RDF +

Azophosmet + Humic acid, S4—Drip fertigation with

WSF at 100 per cent RDF, S5—Drip fertigation with SF

at 125 per cent RDF + Azophosmet + Humic acid, S6—

Drip fertigation with SF at 100 per cent RDF + Azo-

phosmet + Humic acid, S7—Drip fertigation with SF at

75 per cent RDF + Azophosmet + Humic acid, S8—Drip

fertigation with SF at 100 per cent RDF.The number of

days taken from sowing to the opening of first flower in

each treatment and replication was re- corded as the days

taken for first flowering and expressed in days. Total

plants in the net plot were taken in to ac- count for calcu-

lating days to 50 per cent flowering. The total number of

days taken for blooming in about 50 per cent of the

population in the net plot is recorded as days to 50 per

cent flowering. The number of flowers per plant was

counted individually from the tagged plants in each

treatment and replication. For this ten plants from each

treatment were tagged and the flowers that are bloomed

were counted periodically and w ere expressed in number.

The crop yield was computed per hectare and the total

income was worked out and expressed in Rs/ha based on

the minimum market rate which was prevalent during the

time of this experimentation. Net return was obtained by

subtracting the cost of cultivation from gross return for

each treatment and expressed in Rs/ha. The benefit cost

Potential Impact of Spacing and Fertilizer Levels on the Flowering, Productivity and Economic Viability

of Hybrid Bhendi (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) under Drip Fertigation System

1786

ratio (BCR) was worked out by using the formula sug-

gested by Palaniappan [7]. low levels of nutrients. The plants spaced at 60 × 45 cm

recorded minimum days to flowering than closer spacing

of plants at 60 × 30 cm. Possible reason for delayed

flowering at closer spacing might be high competition

among the plants for nutrients, moisture and light [9].

The nutrients movement from source to sink would have

taken place in a consistent manner and made the nutrient

available to all plant parts for quick development of flo-

wer emergence. The result obtained in this study is in ac-

cordance with the fi ndings of Ram al i ngam [10].



Gross return Rsha

BCR Total cost of cultivation Rsha



3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Flowering Characters

The flowering characters like days taken for first flower

emergence, number of days to 50 per cent flowering and

number of flowers per plant were significantly influenced

by different levels of drip fertigation along with Azo-

phosmet and humic acid (Table 1).

Among the interactions, application of 100 per cent

recommended dose of fertilizers as water soluble fertil-

izer with Azophosmet and humic acid (M1S2) in wider

spacing recorded less number of days for 50 per cent

flowering with 51.31. This might be due to availability

optimum level of nutrients in the root zone throughout

the crop growth period. This was in line with the findings

of Takahashi et al. [8]. The presence of K in humic acid

might also be responsible for earliness to attain 50 per

cent flowering [11].

Under closer spacing there was delayed flowering.

Wider spacing (M1) registered early flowering (31.54

days), whereas in closer spacing (M2), the flowering was

noticed in 34.48 days. Application of 100 per cent rec-

ommended dose of fertilizers as water soluble fertilizer

with Azophosmet and humic acid (S2) showed early

flowering with 26.57 days. In the interactions, applica-

tion of 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizers as

water soluble fertilizer with Azophosmet and humic acid

(M1S2) in wider spacing recorded early flowering (26.21

days). Takahashi et al. [8] also found that optimum dose

of N, P and K rates developed flower buds sooner than

In the main plot treatments, M1 (wider spacing) re-

corded more number of flowers per plant with 22.13

when compared to M2 (closer spacing) with 17.90. Dif-

ferent levels of drip fertigation showed significant dif-

ferences among the treatments, S2 (100 per cent recom-

mended dose of fertilizers as water soluble fertilizer with

Table 1. Effect of spacing and drip fertigation on flowering characteristics and productivity of hybrid bhendi.

Flowering characteristics Yield (or) Productivity

Days taken to

first flowering Number of days to 50

per cent flowering Number of flowers

per plant Pod Yield

(g/plant) Pod Yield

(t/ha)

Treatments

M1 M

2 Mean M1 M

1 M

1M1 M

2Mean M1 M

2 Mean M1 M

2Mean

S 1 26.73 29.84 28.29 55.87 59.32 57.6024.7118.8621.79596.70382.60 489.65 22.10 21.2521.68

S 2 26.21 26.94 26.57 51.31 57.49 54.4025.3320.5822.96660.63416.21 538.42 24.47 23.1223.79

S 3 32.44 35.60 34.02 63.04 65.15 64.1021.5417.2719.41484.65313.96 399.30 17.95 17.4417.70

S 4 30.49 35.21 32.85 60.12 63.07 61.6022.2618.4820.37534.21337.95 436.07 19.79 18.7819.28

S 5 28.77 32.26 30.52 57.77 60.77 59.2723.1418.7520.94572.00366.67 469.34 21.18 20.3720.78

S 6 34.18 36.91 35.54 66.35 68.64 67.4921.3517.1619.26439.96284.54 362.25 16.30 15.8116.05

S 7 37.99 39.89 38.94 68.76 72.84 70.8018.6115.6017.11318.79203.48 261.14 11.81 11.3011.56

S 8 35.53 39.19 37.36 68.00 69.63 68.8120.1016.5018.30371.83238.57 305.20 13.77 13.2513.51

Mean 31.54 34.48 33.01 61.40 64.61 63.0122.1317.9020.01497.35318.00 407.67 19.09 18.3018.04

SEd CD (0.05%)SEd CD (0.05%)SEd CD (0.05%)SEd CD (0.05%) SEd CD (0.05%)

M 0.26983 1.16103 0.16988 0.73096 0.193130.83101 5.2785722.71228 0.13876 0.59706

S 0.44869 0.91912 0.78778 1.61373 0.334940.68612 8.3237017.05078 0.29035 0.59476

M X S 0.65201 1.58736 1.05589 2.22456 0.483351.16409 12.2110730.15772 0.40839 0.94285

S X M 0.63454 1.29983 1.11408 2.28216 0.473680.97032 11.7714924.11345 0.41061 0.84112

Potential Impact of Spacing and Fertilizer Levels on the Flowering, Productivity and Economic Viability

of Hybrid Bhendi (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) under Drip Fertigation System 1787

Azophosmet and humic acid) registered the maximum

number of flowers per plant (22.96). Better uptake of po-

tassium by the plants in the fertigation treatment would

have helped in the transpo rt of cytokinin and metabolites

towards the sink. These results are in accordance with the

findings of Salvadore et al. [12] in tomato. Similar trend

of results ha ve bee n d oc umented by P rabhak a r et al. [13],

Meenakshi and Vadivel [14] and Kavitha [15]. This might

be due to activity of humic acid consisting of active

phenolic group that might have inh ibited oxidase activity

and promoted the prolonged persistence of IAA in plants

which might have contributed to the increased number of

flowers. Inhibition of peroxidase activity by humic acid

due to auxin breakdown promoting the number of flow-

ers was reported by Muscolo et al. [16] and Balumahen-

dran [17].

3.2. Pod Yield

Among the spacings, the maximum pod yield per plant

was noticed (Table 1) under the wider spacing M1

(497.35 g) whereas in closer spacing (M2) it was 318.00

g. The 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizers as

water soluble fertilizer along with Azophosmet and hu-

mic acid (S2) showed the maximum pod yield per plant

with 538.42 g, whereas in 75 per cent recommended dose

of fertilizers as straight fertilizer with Azophosmet and

humic acid (S7) the pod yield per plant was 261.14 g.

Among the spacings, the maximum pod yield per hectare

was noticed under the wider spacing M1 (19.09 t/ha),

whereas in closer spacing (M2) it was 18.30 t/ha. Differ-

ent levels of drip fertigation showed significant differ-

ences. The 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizers

as water soluble fertilizer with Azophosmet and humic

acid (S2) showed the maximum pod yield of 23.79 t/ha,

whereas minimum in 75 per cent recommended dose of

fertilizers as straight fertilizer with Azophosmet and hu-

mic acid, (S7) the pod yield per hectare was 11.56 t/ha.

The increase in yield mig ht be due to better proportion

of air-soil-water which was maintained throughout the

life period of crop in drip fertigation as reported by Ka-

dam and Karthikeyan [18]. The result of this experiment

indicated that total yield was affected by plant density.

Yield per hectare increased as plant density decreases.

Nasto et al. [19] reported that the greatest fruit yield of

sweet pepper and other plants were obtained from plants

grown at low density. Lower planting densities per unit

area produces more vigorous crops than higher popula-

tion density, but this cou ld not compensate for a reduced

number of plants per unit area. The total yield increased

with lower planting densities. This was probably due to

decrease in the number of plants per unit area, which

might contribute to the production of extra yield per unit

area leading to high yield [20].

3.3. Economic Viability

In the present study, application of 100 per cent recom-

mended dose of fertilizer as water soluble fertilizer along

with Azophosmet and humic acid under drip fertigation

at wider spacing secured the highest net return (Rs.

162840.40/ha). This resulted in the production of higher

yield per hectare with higher cost benefit ratio (Tabl e 2 ).

The treatment drip fertigation at 100 per cent recom-

mended dose of fertilizer as water soluble fertilizer along

with Azophosmet and humic acid under wider spacing

recorded the maximum BCR of 2.99. The lower BCR of

1.40 were recorded in the treatment 75 per cent recom-

Table 2. Effect of spacing and drip fertigation on economic viability of hybrid bhendi.

Economic Viability

Economic yield

(Kg/ha) Gross income

(Rs/ha) Cost of cultivation

(Rs/ha) Net return

(Rs/ha) BCR

Treatments

Wider

spacing Closer

spacing Wider

spacing Closer

spacing Wider

spacing Closer

spacing Wider

spacing Closer

spacing Wider

spacing Closer

spacing

S1 22.10 21.25 220998.20 212554.6589005.5389005.53131992.67123549.12 2.48 2.39

S 2 24.47 23.12 244676.24 231223.6981835.8481835.84162840.40149387.85 2.99 2.83

S 3 17.95 17.44 179498.43 174420.0974894.7974894.79104603.6499525.30 2.40 2.33

S 4 19.79 18.78 197854.25 187744.8180860.8480860.84116993.41106883.97 2.45 2.32

S 5 21.18 20.37 148298.75 142590.8464515.9464515.9483782.81 78074.91 2.30 2.21

S 6 16.30 15.81 122211.94 118556.3463076.9563076.9559134.99 55479.39 1.94 1.88

S 7 11.81 11.30 88552.24 84783.69 60662.9660662.9627889.27 24120.73 1.46 1.40

S 8 13.77 13.25 103287.60 99403.42 62101.9562101.9541185.65 37301.47 1.67 1.60

Potential Impact of Spacing and Fertilizer Levels on the Flowering, Productivity and Economic Viability

of Hybrid Bhendi (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) under Drip Fertigation System

1788

mended dose of fertilizers as straight fertilizer along with

Azophosmet and humic acid under closer spacing in the

experiment.

4. Conclusion

Thus from the present investigation, drip fertigation un-

der wider spacing in bhendi was found to be an eco-

nomically viable, technically feasible, socially acceptable

technology for maximum yield and income benefits. It

can be concluded from the foregoing discussion that drip

fertigation at 100 per cent recommended dose of fertil-

izer as water soluble fertilizer along with Azophosmet

and humic acid was utilizing the input efficiently in all

the seasons under wider spacing (60 × 45 cm).

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Potential Impact of Spacing and Fertilizer Levels on the Flowering, Productivity and Economic Viability

of Hybrid Bhendi (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) under Drip Fertigation System 1789

List of Abbreviations

RDF: Recommended dose of fertilizer

DAS: Days after sowing

BCR: Benefit cost ratio

NPK: Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium

SF: Straight fertilizer

WSF: Water soluble fertilizer

SSP: Single super phosphate

MAP: Mono ammonium phosphate

SPD: Split plot design

MOP: Muriate of potash

Rs./ha: Rupees/Hectare

Kg/ha: Kilogram /Hectare