EFFECT OF COAL ASH ON PHYSIO-MORPHOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERS OF OKRA (ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS L. MOENCH)

Abstract

A pot culture experiment comprised of five treatments such as T1 : 100 % soil mixture + 0% coal ash, T2 : 75 % soil mixture + 25% coal ash, T3 : 50 % soil mixture + 50% coal ash, T4 : 25% soil mixture + 75% coal ash, T5 : 0 % soil mixture + 100% coal ash was laid out in completely randomized block design with 5 replications to assess the effect of varying levels of coal ash on physio-morphological and bio-chemical characters of okra. The results revealed that the combination of 50:50 soil and coal ash mixture increased the seed germination (80%) and seedling characteristics such as height (28.9 cm), collar girth (1.95 cm) and root girth (35 cm). The plant height (151.9 cm), leaf area (2508 sq cm), no. of fruits (24), fruit weight (350 g), chlorophyll content(10.25 mg/ g) and biomass production(19.5 g) of the crop tested in the current investigation was found significantly maximum in the soil mixture amended with 50% coal ash. The increase in growth traits was mainly attributed to increase in nutrient acquisition of plants grown under above combination. However, 100% coal ash in the growing medium reduced seed germination, seedling vigour, growth, yield attributing characters and biomass per plant. The leaf nutrient status in relation to the macronutrients like Ca, Mg, S and the micro nutrients Zn, Mn, B, Mo, Fe and Cu were found higher in the treatments having high coal ash content in the growing medium than other treatments and the lowest was recorded in control (no coal ash). The present investigation indicated that application of 50:50 coal ashes and soil mixture was found beneficial for successful cultivation of okra under sandy loam soil.