Cultivation of Okra

General Information

It is a crop of tropical and sub-tropical regions. The major growing states in India are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa. Okra is mainly grown for its green tender nutritive fruits. Dry fruits and skin are useful in paper industry and fibre extraction. Okra is rich source of vitamins, protein, calcium and other minerals.
 

Climate

  • Season

    Temperature

    20-30°C
  • Season

    Rainfall

    1000mm
  • Season

    Sowing Temperature

    20-29°C
  • Season

    Harvesting Temperature

    25-35°C
  • Season

    Temperature

    20-30°C
  • Season

    Rainfall

    1000mm
  • Season

    Sowing Temperature

    20-29°C
  • Season

    Harvesting Temperature

    25-35°C
  • Season

    Temperature

    20-30°C
  • Season

    Rainfall

    1000mm
  • Season

    Sowing Temperature

    20-29°C
  • Season

    Harvesting Temperature

    25-35°C
  • Season

    Temperature

    20-30°C
  • Season

    Rainfall

    1000mm
  • Season

    Sowing Temperature

    20-29°C
  • Season

    Harvesting Temperature

    25-35°C

Soil

Okra can be cultivated in wide range of soil. The ideal soil for okra cultivation is sandy loam to clay loam with rich organic matter and better drainage facility. If proper drainage is available it can grow well in heavy soils. The pH of soil should be 6.0 to 6.5. Do not cultivate crop in alkaline, saline soils also in poor drainage capacity soils.

Popular Varieties With Their Yield

Pusa Sawani: It is developed by IARI, New Delhi. Suitable for cultivation in summer and rainy season. Ready to harvest within 50 days. Fruits are dark, green and 10-12cm long at time of harvesting. It is susceptible to yellow vein mosaic virus. Gives average yield of 48-60 qtl/acre.

Pusa Mahakali:
Developed by IARI, New Delhi. Its fruits are of light green color.

Parbhani Kranti: Released by MKV, Parbhani. Fruits are medium long and tender with good keeping quality. It is tolerant to Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus. Gives average yield of 35-45 qtl/acre.

Arka Anamika: Developed by IIHR, Banglore. It is resistant to yellow mosaic virus. It gives average yield of 80 qtl/acre.

Arka Abhay: Released by IIHR, Banglore. Fruits are resistant to Yellow Mosaic Virus.

Pusa A 4: Resistant to yellow mosaic virus and aphid. Ready to harvest in 45 days. Gives average yield of 56 qtl/acre.

Perkins Long green
: Suitable for growing in hilly areas.

Kashi Vibhuti: Gives first harvesting 38-40 days after sowing. Gives average yield of 68-72 qtl/acre.

Aruna:
Released by KAU. Variety having red color pods. It is resistant to Yellow vein Mosaic virus. Gives average yield of 64 qtl/acre.

CO 1: High yielding variety released by TNAU. Variety having red color pods.

Land Preparation

Plough land and bring soil to fine tilth. After ploughing take levelling operation to make soil level. Apply well decomposed cowdung@60-80 qtl/acre in soil at the time of last ploughing.

Sowing

Time of sowing
In Rajasthan it is cultivated in rainy as well in summer season. For rainy season, complete sowing in month of June-July and for summer season it is cultivated in February - March.

Spacing

For summer sowing keep row to row distance of 30cm and plant to plant distance is 12-15cm. In Rainy season, Use row to row spacing of 30-45cm.
 
Sowing Depth
Plant seed at depth of 1-2 cm.

Method of sowing
For Sowing dibbling method is used. 
 

Seed

Seed Rate
Use seed rate of 8 kg/acre for summer season sowing and 5 kg/acre for rainy season.

Seed Treatment
Seed germination can be enhanced by soaking the seeds in water for 24 hours. Seed treatment with Carbendazim will protect seeds from attack of soil born fungus. For that soak seeds in Carbendazim solution@2gm/Ltr of water for 6 hours and dry them in shades. Then immediately complete sowing. For better germination and also to protect crop from soil born disease, treat seeds with Imidacloprid@5ml per 1Kg seed followed by treatment with Trichoderma viride@4gm/kg of seeds.

Fungicide name Quantity (Dosage per kg seed)
Carbendazim 2gm
Imidacloprid 5ml

 

Fertilizer

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

UREA SSP MOP
80 As per soil test results 20

 

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

NITROGEN PHOSPHORUS POTASH
36 As per soil test results 12

 

Apply well decomposed cow dung@60-80qtl/acre as basal dose. Apply Nitrogen@36kg/acre(urea@80 kg/acre), Potash@12kg/acre (MoP@20kg/acre) before seed sowing.

To obtain good yield, 10-15days after sowing take spray of 19:19:19 along with micro-nutrients@2.5 to 3gm/Ltr of water. Repeat the spray of 19:19:19@4-5gm/Ltr of water 10-15days after first spray. To obtain good flowering and fruiting, take spray of 00:52:34@50gm/10Ltr water at before onset of flowering followed by another during fruit formation stage. To increase yield and to obtain good quality, At fruit development stage spray with 13:00:45 (Potassium Nitrate)@100gm/10Ltr of water.

Weed Control

Weeding is done to control the growth of weeds in okra. Earthing up in the rows should be done in rainy season crop. First weeding is done after 20-25 days of sowing and second weeding is done after 40-  45 days of sowing . Pre-emergence application of herbicides for controlling weeds in bhindi is found effective. Fluchloralin 48%@1 liter per acre or Pendimethalin@1ltr/acre or Alachlor@1.6Ltr/acre.

Irrigation

Pre sowing irrigation should be given in summer season crop to ensure good germination if sufficient moisture is not present in soil. The next irrigation is given after seed germination. Then the field is irrigated after 4 to 5 days in summer and 10 to 12 days in rainy season.

Plant protection

Shoot and Fruit Borer
  • Pest and their control:

Shoot and Fruit borer: The insect larvae bore into the shoots during vegetative growth resulting in dropping of affected shoots. In later stages bored fruits have larvae inside and filled with excreta.
Destroy infested parts. If pest population is high, spray Spinosad@80ml/100Ltr water or Chlorantraniliprole 18.5%SC @7ml/15Ltr of water or Flubendiamide@50ml/acre added in 200Ltr water.

Blister Beetle

Blister beetle: The beetle feed on pollen, petals and flower buds.
If infestation is observed, collect and destroy adults and take spray of Carbaryl@800gm/150Ltr of water or Malathion@400ml/150Ltr of water or Cypermethrin@80ml per 150Ltr of water is effective.

Aphids

Aphid: Colony of aphids on young leaves and fruits can be seen. Adult and nymphs, both suck the sap thus weaken the plant. In severe infestation, they cause curling and deformation of young leaves. They secrete honey dew like substance and sooty, black mould is developed on affected parts.
Destroy affected parts as soon as infestation is noticed. Apply Dimethoate 300 ml/150Ltr of water, 20 to 35 days after sowing.repeat again if necessary. If infestation is observed take spray of Thiamethoxam 25WG@5gm/15Ltr of water.

Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus
  • Disease and their control:

Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus: The characteristic symptom of this disease is homogenous interwoven network of yellow veins. Growth of the plant gets affected and they remain stunted. Fruits also give yellow appearance with small size and tough texture. It causes yield losses up to 80-90%. This disease is spread due to white fly and leaf hopper.
Use resistant varieties for cultivation. Remove and destroyed diseased plants away from field. To control white fly take spray of Dimethoate@300ml/150Ltr of water.

Powdery mildew
Powdery mildew: White powdery growth is observed on young leaves and also on fruits. In severe condition premature defoliation and fruit drop is observed. Fruit quality get detoriated and they remain small in size.
 
If infestation is observed in field, take spray of Wettable Sulphur 25gm/10Ltr of water or Dinocap@5ml/10Ltr of water, 4 times at 10 days interval or Tridemorph@5ml or Penconazol@10ml/10Ltr of water for 4 times with 10 days interval.
 
Cercospora Leaf Spot

Cercospora leaf spot: Spots of greyish centre and red borders appears on the leaves. In case of severe infestation, defoliation occurs.
To avoid future infection do seed treatment with Thiram. If infestation of disease is observed in field, take spray of Mancozeb@4gm/Ltr  or Carbendazime@2gm per Ltr of water. Give two- three foliar spray of Difenoconazole/Hexaconazole@0.5gm/Ltr of water.
 

Root Rot

Root rot: Infested roots become dark brown in colour and plant die in case of severe infestation.
Avoid monocropping and follow crop rotation. Before sowing do seed treatment with Carbendazim@2.5 gram per kg of seed. Drench the soil with Carbendazim solution@1gm/Ltr of water.

Wilt: In wilt disease, initially older leaves turn yellow followed by complete wilting of crop. It can attack crop at any stage.
If infestation is observed, Drench with Carbendazim@10gm/10Ltr water around root zone.

Harvesting

The fruits are ready to harvest after 60 to 70 days of sowing. Small and tender fruit should be harvested. The fruits should be harvested in the morning and evenings. Delay in harvesting may make the fruits fibrous and they loose their tenderness and taste.

Post-Harvest

Okra has short shelf life and cannot be stored for longer time. The okra fruit should be stored at 7-10°C and 90 percent relative humidity to increase the shelf life. For local markets the fruits are filled in jute bags, whereas for distant markets the fruits are packed in perforated paper cartoons.