Effect of organic matter, irrigation and soil mulching on the nutritional status and productivity of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) in the semiarid region of Brazil

Abstract

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L) is an important vegetable crop currently cultivated in many parts of the world. The adoption of management strategies to promote the nutritional status and crop productivity in semiarid regions of Brazil is still poorly studied. Thus, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of raising the level of organic matter in the soil, irrigation and soil mulching in the nutritional status and productivity of okra plant in the semiarid region of Brazil. In this study, the experimental design of randomized blocks in a factorial 5×2×2 was used, with four replications. The treatments were five rates of cattle manure, necessary for raising the levels of organic matter in the pits to 1.8, 2.62, 3.44, 4.26 and 5.08%, two water depths (50 and 100%) of crop evapotranspiration, and soil with and without mulch. The elevation of soil organic matter level until 5.08% in conjunction with the implementation of 100% of Evapotranspiration (ETc) water depth and the use of mulch on the soil favored the greatest absorption of nutrients and increased the productivity of okra plant.

Keywords: Cattle manure, nutrient absorption, management of water in the soil