Response of tow varieties of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) to application methods of humic acid, zolfast and their effects on qualitative charectristics of fruits

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in Agriculture College, University of AL–Qadisiya from10/4/2011 till 15/10/2011. The aim of the study was studying response of two okra cultivars (Al–Husenawyia and Al–Pteira), humic acid and zolfast application methods (foliar and addition toirrigation water) and this concentration (recommended and doubled) on qualitative charectristicsof fruitsThe humic acid and zolfast formulas were added twice by the use of hand sprayer. Therecommended concentration for humic acid and zolfast as foliar spraying were 1 ml.L-1 and 2ml.L-1 if doubled respectively while when used with irrigation water 4.8 ml.L-1 and 9.6 ml.L-1 atdouble for humic acid 7.2 and 14.4 ml.L-1 for zolfast if doubled.The design of the experiment was Randomized Complete Blocks in a factorial arrangement(2×2×5) in three replications. The RLSD at 0.05 was used as a method of mean separationtreatment effect was evident.The results showed:1- Al–Husenawyia cultivar was superior on Al–Pteira cultivar in mucilage, percentage of protein,carbohydrates and oil refractive index.2- Foliar application method of humic acid and zolfast showed beneficial effect on all parametersstudies.3- Percentage of fiber was lower with the use of zolfast compared to humic acid and control. Nosignificant difference was found between the recommended concentrations of humic acid orzolfast in carbohydrates%, mucilage and oil refractive index.4- The interaction between cultivars and humic acid and zolfast concentrations revealed that bothcultivars had different response to the applied concentrations of humic and zolfast. Al–Husenawyia had higher percentage of fiber, mucilage, oil refractive index with the doublerecommended humic acid.5- The three way interaction factors studied in the experiment revealed an increase in growthparameter of both cultivars when humic acid and zolfast were added in their higherconcentration (double recommended) by foliar application. Al–Husenawyia cultivar washigher in all parameters with the use of higher concentration of humic acid and zolfast whenapplied with irrigation water or foliar application. The three way interaction revealed nosignificant difference in the percentage of oil.

Keywords

okra, humicacid, zolfat