Okra
Okra
Okra
Introduction
Crop varieties
Conventional
practices
Suitable agro
climatic conditions
Suitable soils
Preparation of land
Soil sterilization
Planting
Drip system
requirements
Irrigation scheduling
Advantages of drip
irrigation
Application of
fertilizers
Weed control
Plant protection
Harvesting, yield
and quality control
Post harvest
handling and
storage
Cost economics
Contact Address
Introduction
Okra, or Ladies finger, which is also known as
‘ Bhindi ', is one of the important vegetables
of India. It is grown throughout the tropical
and sub-tropical regions and also in the
warmer parts of the temperate regions. The
nutritional value of 100g of edible okra is
characterized 1.9 g protein, 0.2 g fat, 6.4 g
carbohydrate, 0.7 g minerals and 1.2 g fibers.
Okra has a good potential as a foreign
exchanger crop and accounts for 60% of the
export of fresh vegetables. It is cultivated in
0.349 M ha area with the production of 3.344
M mt and productivity of 9.6 mt/ha. The major
okra producing states are Uttar Pradesh,
Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh
and Karnataka. In West Bengal, 0.662 M mt of
Okra is produced from 58,400 ha with an
average productivity of 11.4 mt/ha. The crop
is also used in paper industry as well as for
the extraction of fiber.
Crop varieties
Okra ( Abelmoschus esculentum (L.) Moench.)
plant belongs to the family Malvaceae. The crop
varieties are Kamini, Pusa Mukhamali, Parbhani
Kranti, etc. are commonly cultivated varieties.
Conventional practices
Generally farmers grow locally available
varieties with check basin or furrow method
of irrigation. Standard practices of nutrient
and plant protection measures are rarely
adopted.
Preparation of land
Intensive tillage is required for the land
preparation of Okra. Deep (20-25 cm)
ploughing followed by cross harrowing is done
to make the soil friable and loose. One or two
plankings are also needed to make the soil
surface smooth and level.
Soil sterilization
The sterilization of the soil can be achieved by
both physical and chemical means. Physical
control measures include treatments with
steam and solar energy. Chemical control
methods include treatments with herbicides
and fumigants. Soil sterilization can also be
achieved by using transparent plastic mulch
film, which is termed as soil solarization.
During soil solarization, the incoming solar
radiation penetrates the transparent plastic
film and is absorbed in the soil. The absorbed
radiation converts into heat energy, which
raises the soil temperature and kills many
soil-borne organisms including plant
pathogens and pests.
Planting
Sowing is done in two seasons: end of
January for the summer crop and end of May
for the rainy season crop. The seed rate for
the summer crop is 18 to 20 kg /ha and 10 to
12 kg /ha for the rainy season crop. A spacing
of 60 x 45 cm or 60 x 30 cm is generally
adopted.
Irrigation scheduling
The crop requires adequate moisture in the soil
during summer months for faster growth. Drip
irrigation is most suitable to the crop as it provides
uniform moisture throughout the season. The daily
water requirement of Okra crop is 2.4 l/day/4 plants
during early growth stage and 7.6 l/day/4 plants
during the peak growth stage. The irrigation system
should be operated daily for 75 minutes during
initial growth stage and for 228 minutes during peak
growth of the crop with an emitter capacity of 2 lph.
Irrigation on each day or on alternate days with On-
line type of drippers is preferred.
Application of fertilizers
In order to maximize the yield about 30 t of FYM,
350 kg Super phosphate, 125 kg Murate of Potash
and 300 kg Ammonium sulphate should be applied
in the rows before sowing for one hectare of land.
Nitrogen should be applied through fertigation in
three split doses.
Weed control
As Okra is harvested over a long period, weed
control happens to be an important cultural
operation. Shallow rooted inter-row
cultivation and hand weeding may be used to
minimize weeds in the inter row zone. Black
plastic mulch may be used to suppress weed
growth. The black plastic mulch also keeps
the soil warm and encourages plant growth.
Plant protection
The control measures for insects, pests and
disease depend upon type and intensity of the
problems. The control measures for the main pests
and diseases are stated below.
Flea beetles is the major insect for Okra. This can
be controlled with row covers or applications of
Rotenone or Pyrethrin. Okra is susceptible to
diseases such as Verticillium, Fusarium and
several other fungal diseases in wet season. These
diseases can be controlled by proper crop rotation
and good garden sanitation practices.
Cost economics
Area: 1 ha. Planting geometry: 60cm x 30cm.
Fixed cost of drip system: Rs. 99,366
Rate of interest 10.5%, Life of system 7.5 years
Annual cost of drip System: Rs. 14,287
Cost of cultivation: Rs. 11,500
Expected yield: 17 t/ha
Expected Benefit Cost ratio: 2.2
Contact Address:
Dr. K. N. Tiwari
Professor & Principal Investigator
Precision Farming Development Centre
Agricultural & Food Engineering Department
IIT Kharagpur (W.B.) 721 302
Tel: 03222-283150 (O)/ 283151 (R)
Fax: 03222-282244 (O)
mail: kamlesh@agfe.iitkgp.ernet.in pfdc_khar
agpur@yahoo.com
cientific : Abelmoschus
Name Esculentus
Family : Malvaceae
Colour : Green to dark green
Common : Okra, Ladies finger,
names Okoro, Gumbo,
Bhindi (India)
Best : Throughout the
Season year
Nutritiona : 33 kcal, 7.6 g
l Value carbohydrate, 2.4 g
protein, 70 mg
calcium 31 mg
vitamin C, 0.32 mg
vitamin A, 0.17 mg
vitamin B1, 0.21 mg
vitamin B2, per 100 g
serving.
Okra is a tall growing warm season annual with
ornamental value, native to Africa. They are
known by different names and comes in a
number of varieties which vary in plant size,
shape, pod type, colour and the number of
spines. Dwarf varieties without spines and with
smooth green pods are best for home gardens.
This upright plant grows 3-6 feet or more in
height, some African varieties up to 12 feet,
with a base stem of 4 inches in diameter. The
woody stems bear leaves that are lobed and are
generally hairy, some reaching up to 12 inches
in length. The flowers are large around 2inches
in diameter, yellowish hibiscus like, with red or
purple centers which will last only for a day.
Each blossom develops a small green pod. The
fruits are green to dark green, sometimes
yellow to red; long, conical and ridged. Okra
contains moderate levels of vitamin A and
vitamin C.
Propagation and Planting :
Propagation is through seeds. Soak seeds
overnight in warm water before sowing to
improve germination. Seeds can be sown 1 inch
deep in pots or seed trays or directly on the
ground 12 to 18 inches apart or three to four
seeds per foot, in single rows. Seedlings are
ready for transplanting when they reach a
height of 10-15cm. Rows should be kept 3 to 5
feet apart. Plants branch out only when they
reach a height of 30-40cm.
Okras grow well in warm weather. They should
be planted in full sun. The soil for growing okras
should be fertile, well drained, high in organic
matter with a pH ranging from 6.0 to 6.5. Soil
should be well prepared several weeks before
planting by adding well rotted
manure, compost or any other organic matter
and a balanced fertilizer. Lime or dolomite can
be added to get the required ph level of the
soil.
The soil should be kept moist by regular
watering. Water the soil not the plant directly.
But the plant does not tolerate excessive
moisture. Regular watering and light
fertilization occasionally gives better yield.
Always water after fertilizing. Okra will start
yielding about 60 days after planting. Fruits
should be picked when they are 3-4 inches long
and still tender. They become tough and stringy
as they mature. Seeds for the next season can
be obtained by not picking some of the pods till
they reach the full size. Then dry the pods, shell
the seeds and save the seeds in an
airtight container.
Problems and Care :
Keep the area around the okra plants weed
free. Remove weeds and grass close to the
plant carefully by hand without damaging the
roots. Plants are susceptible to stem rot, so
when you must water, soak the soil, not the
plant. Yields will increase if plants are watered
deeply. To reduce the potential for fruit rot
problems, be sure that plants have good air
circulation.
Some of the many insect pests which may
attack okra are silver leaf whitefly, heliothis,
stink bugs, rough bollworm, looper caterpillars
and green vegetable bugs. Aphids and mites
may also occur on okra crops. Aphids can be
washed off with a steady stream of water or
sprayed with soap spray. Stink bugs are more
difficult to control. These can be hand picked
and destroyed. Loopers can be controlled with
Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis).
If the pods/ fruits are not picked on time and
allowed to mature on the plant, flowering and
further production will be reduced. Branch
thinning or cutting off branches may be
necessary to control dense growth of the plant.