Assessment of Mulching and Spacing Effects on Growth, Yield and Economics of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) in Dang, Nepal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v14i6.1603-1617.8667Keywords:
Abelmoschus esculentus, plastic mulch, plant density, spacing, benefit: cost, NepalAbstract
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) is a significant summer vegetable crop in Nepal, but productivity remains suboptimal due to inadequate agronomic practices. This field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of four mulching treatments (black plastic, silver-on-black plastic, paddy straw, and no mulch) and three plant spacings (50×20, 50×30, and 50×40 cm) on okra growth, yield, quality, and profitability in Dang, Nepal, during the 2021 spring season. The experiment was laid out in a two-factor factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. Two-way analysis of variance showed significant (p < 0.01) main effects of mulching on plant height, stem girth, canopy spread, number of leaves, and marketable yield. Silver-on-black plastic mulch yielded the highest marketable yield (18.56 t/ha), representing a 32% increase over unmulched control (14.09 t/ha) and a 31% increase over paddy straw mulch (14.20 t/ha). Regarding fruit quality, mulching and spacing significantly influenced fruit dimensions, with wider spacing (50×40 cm) producing larger fruits (13.08 cm length, 15.82 mm diameter) despite lower total yield per hectare. Dry matter partitioning showed consistency across treatments, indicating stable resource allocation patterns. Narrow spacing (50×20 cm) maximized yield per hectare (18.57 t/ha), despite lower performance per plant, reflecting increased plant density effects. Mulching × spacing interactions were generally not significant (p > 0.05), indicating independent effects. Economic analysis revealed that silver-on-black plastic mulch with a 50×20 cm spacing yielded the highest benefit-cost ratio (1.92), delivering net returns of NPRs 368,275 per hectare. These findings provide evidence-based recommendations to improve okra production in Nepal’s mid-hill agroecological zones, although further research is needed on the long-term sustainability of plastic mulches and the development of biodegradable alternatives.
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