Effect of Different Levels of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilizer in Combination with Botanical Compost on Growth and Yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) under Sandy Soil Conditions in Egypt

摘要

A field experiment was conducted on a sandy soil at El-Khattara Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt during two successive summer seasons of 2013 and 2014. It aims to assess the response to nitrogenand phosphorus fertilizer rates with or without botanical compost regarding growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) as well as other attributes. The experiment was carried out under drip irrigation system. The treatments consisted of 14 treatments, which were the combination between two botanical compost (without compost and with compost) and seven levels of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer (Unfertilized soil, 80 kg N fed~(-1)+45 kg P fed~(-1), 80 kg N fed~(-1)+GO kg P fed~(-1), 80 kg Nfed~(-1)+75 kg P fed~(-1), 100 kg N fed~(-1)+45 kg P fed~(-1), 100 kg N fed~(-1)+60 kg P fed~(-1) and 100 kg N fed~(-1)+75 kg P fed~(-1)). These treatments were arranged in split plot system in a randomized complete block design with three replications.The botanical compost were randomly arranged in the main plot and N+P were distributed in sub plots. The results showed that application of different levels of nitrogen plus phosphorus fertilizer combined with or without compost; significantly (p<0.05) influenced the growth, yield and other attributes of okra plants. Application of 100 kg N fed~(-1)+75 kg P fed~(-1) with or without compost to okra plants gave the highest values of plant growth, yield and quality in the two studied seasons. In addition,results showed that application of botanical compost led to increase the yield and NPK uptake by okra plant. This study suggests that okra response to different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus combined with or without botanical compost under sandy soilin Egypt.