Effect of Biofertilizers on Vegetative Growth of Okra

An experiment was carried out at the Field Laboratory of the Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh from March to July, 2001 to investigate the effect of biofertilizers on morpho-physiological characters of okra. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. There were nine treatments such as $\textrm{T}_0$ (control), $\textrm{T}_1$ (Azotobacter biofertilizer), $\textrm{T}_2$ (Azospirillum biofertilizer), $\textrm{T}_3$ (Azotobacter+Azospirillum biofertilizers), $\textrm{T}_4$ (Azotobacter+Cowdung 5 ton $\textrm{ha}^{-1}$), $\textrm{T}_5$ (Azospirillum+Cowdung 5 ton $\textrm{ha}^{-1}$), $\textrm{T}_6$(Azotobacter+Azospirillum+Cowdung 5 ton $\textrm{ha}^{-1}$), $\textrm{T}_7$ (Cowdung 5 ton $\textrm{ha}^{-1}$) and $\textrm{T}_8$ (60% Nitrogen). The experimental results revealed that significant variations exist among the treatments regarding morphological characters e.g. plant height, number of leaves/plant, stem base diameter, tap root length, and physiological characters like, root dry weight, leaf area index and crop growth rate. Number of leaves/plant, stem base diameter, root length, root dry weight, leaf area index and crop growth rate were found higher in $\textrm{T}_4$, $\textrm{T}_5$, $\textrm{T}_6$ and $\textrm{T}_8$ than the others. In all the parameters, $\textrm{T}_8$ gave the similar result with biofertilizers in combination with cowdung treatments and $\textrm{T}_7$ showed identical with $\textrm{T}_0$ (control). Biofertilizer treatments had insignificant effect on 1000-seed weight(g). Experimental results mentioned above revealed that morpho-physioligical characters of okra could be modified by the application of biofertilizer+cowdung. However, biofertilizers+Cowdung treatments were comparable to $\textrm{T}_8$(60% Nitrogen) in this study. This suggests that $\textrm{T}_4$ or $\textrm{T}_6$ or $\textrm{T}_5$ were more benificial in environmentally friendly okra cultivation and may be used as an alternative of inorganic nitrogen by saving cost of production and sustaining productivity.