Effect of Planting Geometry and Nitrogen Levels on Crop Growth, Fruit Yield and Quality in Okra Grown during Early Winter in Terai Zone of West Bengal

A field-experiment was conducted in early winter of 2006 and 2007 under sub-Himalayan terai agroclimatic region of West Bengal to evaluate comparative effect of planting geometry and nitrogen levels on growth, yield and fruit quality in okra variety Arka Anamika. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design and replicated thrice, with four levels of nitrogen, viz., 50 kg, 100 kg, 150 kg and 200 kg ha^-1 and four different spacings viz., 30 cm x 15 cm, 30 cm x 30 cm, 45 cm x 30 cm and 60 cm x 30 cm. Among different treatment combinations, application of 150 kg N ha^-1 and 45 cm x 30 cm spacing recorded the highest number of fruits plant^-1 (13.7), individual fruit weight (18.5 gm), fruit yield plant^-1 (195.0 g), fruit yield ha^-1 (12.2 t) and Vitamin C content in fruits (25.3 mg /100 g). Fertilization with 200 kg N ha^-1 and 45 cm x 30 cm spacing recorded the highest value for nitrate content in fruits (658.1 mg kg^-1). The study amply revealed scope for growing okra crop profitably during early winter season of mild, cool temperature by adopting nitrogen levels of 150 kg ha^-1 with plant spacing of 45 cm x 30 cm in the terai agro-climatic region of West Bengal.