Mukesh

Journal of Eco-friendly Agriculture 18(1): Kumar,

43-50. 2023 A. Harshavardhan Reddy, Puja Rattan and Anju Pathania ISSN : 2229-628X (print)
doi: 10.5958/2582-2683.2023.00008.4 e-ISSN : 2582-2683 (online)

Research Article

Influence of priming and irrigation intervals on growth and

fruit yield of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]
Mukesh Kumar*, A. Harshavardhan Reddy, Puja Rattan and Anju Pathania
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, DAV University, Jalandhar (Punjab), India
*Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]
ABSTRACT

The field experiment conducted at the experimental farm, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, DAV University,
Jalandhar in spring-summer of 2019 in split plot design with 3 replications and 12 treatment combinations (comprising
of four priming treatments viz., dry seed, hydro-priming, 3% KCL and 3% KNO3 and three irrigation intervals viz., 5,
8 and 11 days intervals) showed that the irrigation given at 5 days intervals proved best with respect to minimum
number of days to 50 per cent emergence, number of days to 50 per cent flowering, days to first picking and recorded
maximum for inter-nodal length, number of nodes, plant height, number of pickings, number of fruits per plant,
average fruit weight, fruit yield, root length and chlorophyll “b” while, irrigation at 8 days intervals recorded maximum
number of branches per plant. Among priming treatment, hydro-priming recorded maximum inter-nodal length,
number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight and fruit yield while, minimum days to 50 per cent flowering, number
of picking were observed in 3 per cent KCL and 3 per cent KNO3 recorded minimum days to first picking of fruits and
maximum inter-nodal length, number of branches per plant, maximum plant height, maximum number of pickings,
longest root length and chlorophyll “b”. Among treatment combinations, 5 days intervals × 3 per cent KNO3 recorded
minimum number of days to 50 per cent emergence, maximum number of branches per plant, while 5 days intervals
× 3 per cent KCL recorded minimum number of days to first picking, number of fruits per plant, average weight of
fruit and highest yield which was at par with 5 days intervals × hydro-priming and 5 days intervals × dry seed. All
the irrigation intervals performed best during shorter irrigation intervals as compared to longer irrigation intervals. It
was found from the results of this research that hydro-priming and halo-priming enhanced okra growth and yield
parameters. It was concluded that problems of low germination and production in okra can be improved by hydro-
priming and halo-priming.
Keywords: Okra, Seed priming, Dry seed, Hydro-priming, Halo-priming, Irrigation intervals.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench), one of the most The percentage of hard seediness increases with maturity
widely grown vegetable crop of the family Malvaceae and decrease with moisture content (El-Balla et al., 2011).
(Naveed et al., 2009), is cultivated over an area of 5.33 lakh
Seed priming is a pre-sowing seed treatment in which
hectare, with annual production of 63.46 lakh million tones
the seed is soaked in water in order to start pre-germination
in India (Anonymous, 2019a). In Punjab, it is cultivated over
processes (Posmyk et al., 2001). The process increases seed
an area 5.30 thousand hectare with annual production 55.39
germination (Kausar et al., 2009) and thereby improve
thousand tonnes (Anonymous, 2020b). It is also grown in
seedling stand enabling better crop establishment (Job et al.,
Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar,
2000). It is a simple, low cost and effective approach for early
Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. It
seedling growth and yield under stressed and non-stressed
contains Vitamin A and C and is also rich source of iron and
conditions. It triggers the synthesis or activation of some
calcium (Pandita et al., 2010) and iodine (Pal et al., 1952).
enzymes that catalyze the mobilization of storage reserves
Okra green pods are consumed as salads, vegetables, soups
in seed and also allows some of the metabolic processes to
and stews, fresh or dried, fried or boiled (Ndunguru et al.,
occur before the actual germination get started (Farooq et al.,
2004). Okra seeds are source of oil and protein and have
2008). Hydro-priming and osmo-priming promote the
been used in small scale for oil production (Oyelade et al.,
proliferative and dynamic growth of roots (Carceller and
2003). In some countries, okra is used in folk medicine as
Soriano, 1972).
antiulcerogenic, gastro-protective and diuretic agent
(Gurbuz et al., 2003). In the plains of north India, it is mainly The specifications for irrigation intervals and the
grown during rainy season (June-July) and spring summer amounts of water needed for the plants must be managed in
(February-March). The main problem in early spring summer order to increase productivity and reduce mineral soil
planting is delayed and erratic seed germination of seed washing and avoid water stress (Boras et al., 2011). It permits
(Pandita et al., 2010) which is attributed to its hard seediness. the dissolution of the mineral element into various parts of

©2023 of Eco-friendly Agriculture 18(1) 2023

Journal 43
doi: 10.5958/2582-2683.2023.00008.4
 Influence of priming and irrigation intervals on growth and fruit yield of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

the plant (El-Sahookie et al., 2009). Apart from germination, design (Panse and Sukhatme, 1985). The interpretation of
another problem that occurs during spring-summer season result was based on F test and critical difference (CD) at 5
is requirement of adequate moisture in the soil. Irrigations at per cent level of significance.
5 to 6 days interval are given to summer crop to help continue
fruiting. But exposing the crop for a certain level of water RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
stress either during a specific period or throughout the Days to 50 per cent emergence
growing season helps in maximizing water-use efficiency. The days to 50 per cent emergence recorded under
On the other hand, saved water can be used to irrigate other different levels of irrigation indicated that the minimum
crops (Bahadur et al., 2005). Okra farmers in Punjab are facing number of days to emergence was observed under I1 (8.11
major problem of seed germination and decrease in water days) which were significantly lower than I3 (10.78 days).
resources during peak summers. Keeping these points in However, no significant difference was observed between I1
view, the effect of priming, irrigation intervals and their and I2 (Table 1). The present findings are in corroboration
combination on growth and yield of okra was studied. with Gunawardhana and Silva, (2011) who reported
MATERIALS AND METHODS reduction in seedling emergence rate due to water stress.
Ayeni et al. (2015) also reported that germination of okra
The present study was carried out at the experimental seeds occurred best in cultivated soils when they were
farm of Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, DAV University, irrigated at four days interval. The effect of priming
Jalandhar in 2019 to study the “Effect of priming and treatments on days to 50% emergence was found non-
irrigation intervals on growth & fruit yield of Okra significant. The days to 50 per cent emergence were minimum
[Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]”. The soil of with I1P4 (7.00 days) which was significantly lower than I1P1
experimental site was alkaline in reaction (pH 8.02), sandy (9.33 days) but was found to be at par with I1P2 and I1P3. This
loam in texture and available N, P and K were 207.80, 16.73, might be due to the fact that rapid imbibitions of primed
54.56 kg ha -1, respectively. The field experiment was seeds resulting in increased seed metabolism thus increasing
conducted in split plot design with factorial concept with the germination rate. It is also evident that the days to 50 per
three replications. The treatments comprised of four priming cent emergence were found to be at par under all priming
treatments (dry seed, hydro-priming, 3 per cent KCL and 3 treatments at I2 and I3 level of irrigation. However, at I3 level
per cent KNO3) and three irrigation intervals (5 days of irrigation the days for 50 per cent emergence were
intervals, 8 days intervals and 11 days intervals) constituting significantly higher with P4 (13.44 days). The beneficial
12 combinations viz., I1P1 (5 days interval × dry seed), I1P2 (5 effects of priming may be more evident under unfavorable
days interval × hydro-priming), I1P3 (5 days interval × 3% rather than favorable conditions (Parera and Cantliffe, 1994;
KCL), I1P4 (5 days interval × 3% KNO3), I2P1 (8 days interval × Bradford, 1995) but due to occurrence of rain 5 days after
dry seed), I2P2 (8 days interval × hydro-priming), I2P3 (8 days sowing the okra plants did not experience water stress during
interval × 3% KCL), I2P4 (8 days interval × 3% KNO3), I3P1 (11 germination and seedling emergence in the field.
days interval × dry seed), I3P2 (11 days interval × Hydro-
priming), I3P3 (11 days interval × 3% KCL), I3P4 (11 days Days to 50 per cent flowering
interval × 3% KNO3). The entire recommended dose of The minimum number of days to 50 per cent flowering
phosphorus, potassium and FYM and one-third nitrogen was recorded in I1 (50.08 days) which was significantly
was applied at the time of field preparation while the superior over the remaining treatments. The maximum
remaining nitrogen was applied in two equal split doses at number of days was recorded with I3 (55.83 days). All the
30 and 45 days of sowing. All the cultural and management treatments were significantly different from each other. It
practices were followed whenever needed. Five random might be due to sufficient availability of moisture which
plants were selected per plot for the collection of data. enabled them to utilize resources efficiently (Table 1). Similar
Observations were recorded on growth (days to 50% results were also reported by (Aliyu et al. 2016) who observed
emergence, days to 50 per cent flowering, number of nodes that the shorter irrigation intervals gave plants chance to
per plant, inter-nodal length, plant height, number of grow and attain flowering stage within fewer days. Similar
branches per plant, root length, chlorophyll a and b) and findings were also reported by (Gudugi et al. 2012). Among
yield attributes (days to first picking, total number of the priming treatments, the minimum number of days was
pickings, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, observed in P3 (50.89 days). The treatment P2 and P4 were
fruit yield per plant, fruit yield per plot and fruit yield per found to be at par with P3. The treatment P1 took maximum
hectare). The data recorded during the course of investigation number of days to 50 per cent flowering (54.89 days). Similar
was subjected to statistical analysis using factorial split plot findings were also reported by (Kaur et al. 2015; and Ullah et

44 Journal of Eco-friendly Agriculture 18(1) 2023

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 Mukesh Kumar, A. Harshavardhan Reddy, Puja Rattan and Anju Pathania

al. 2002 b) who noted that primed crops emerged faster, length was obtained with I1 (7.79 cm) which was significantly
flowered earlier and gave higher yield. higher to I2 (6.31 cm) and I3 (5.19 cm). However, I2 and I3 both
were found significantly at par with each other. Among the
Number of nodes plant-1 priming treatments, maximum inter-nodal length was
The data pertaining to number of nodes per plant as observed in P2 and P4 (6.80 cm) followed by P3 (6.66 cm). All
influenced by different levels of irrigation and priming the priming treatments were significantly higher over P1 (5.45
revealed irrigation intervals significantly influenced the cm). The interactions among irrigation intervals and priming
number of nodes per plant. The maximum number of nodes treatments were found to be non-significant.
per plant was obtained with I 1 (17.83) which were
significantly superior to I2 and I3. The next best treatment Plant height (cm)
was I2 which was also significantly better than I3. (Table 1). The tallest plants (68.68 cm) were obtained with I1
These findings are in line with the findings of (Tan et al which were significantly taller than plants obtained from I2
2009) who also reported that amount of irrigation has and I3 (Table 1). The shortest plants (58.29 cm) were obtained
significant effect on number of nodes per plant in bottle gourd. with I3. Therefore, it is evident from the data that plant height
decreased with increase in irrigation intervals. This
However, the priming treatments and interactions I ×
reduction might probably have been due to increase in
P and P × I were found non-significant.
moisture stress condition with increase irrigation interval
Inter-nodal length (cm) which in turn reduced the rate of cell enlargement and plant
growth. El-Kader et al. (2010) also observed that height of
The perusal of data (Table 1) showed that inter-nodal
okra increases by augmentation of water availability. They
length was significantly influenced by irrigation intervals
reported decrease in morphological characters like plant
and priming treatments in okra. The maximum inter-nodal
Table 1. Effect of irrigation intervals on growth parameters in different priming treatments of okra
Irrigation Priming Days to 50 Days to Number Internodal Plant Number of Root Chlorophyll Chlorophyll
intervals treatments per cent 50 per of nodes length (cm) height (cm) branches length “a” “a”
emergence cent plant-1 (cm)
flowering
5 days interval Dry seed 9.33 51.67 17.93 6.27 65.83 1.40 7.70 4.12 2.44
Hydro-priming 8.44 50.33 16.43 8.55 69.57 1.40 7.86 6.40 1.90
KCL (3%) 7.67 47.33 20.43 7.70 70.43 1.47 8.46 5.77 1.62
KNO3 (3%) 7.00 51.00 16.53 8.64 68.87 2.33 8.58 6.83 2.40
Mean 8.11 50.08 17.83 7.79 68.68 1.65 8.15 5.78 2.09
8 days interval Dry seed 8.00 55.00 17.97 5.51 54.37 1.47 9.10 6.02 1.54
Hydro-priming 9.00 52.00 15.60 6.61 63.33 2.07 9.73 5.12 1.48
KCL (3%) 9.44 50.33 14.67 6.61 58.97 1.60 10.61 6.34 1.36
KNO3 (3%) 8.67 50.00 15.00 6.52 68.83 2.27 10.11 5.01 1.36
Mean 8.78 51.83 15.81 6.31 61.38 1.85 9.88 5.62 1.44
11 days interval Dry seed 10.33 58.00 13.53 4.57 51.80 1.20 10.30 4.44 1.95
Hydro-priming 9.11 55.67 13.33 5.25 62.97 1.23 11.20 4.94 1.87
KCL (3%) 10.22 55.00 11.07 5.67 58.83 1.33 10.75 4.31 1.58
KNO3 (3%) 13.44 54.67 14.37 5.25 59.87 1.30 11.96 5.06 2.23
Mean 10.78 55.83 13.08 5.19 58.29 1.27 11.05 4.69 1.91
Irrigation intervals
SE m± 0.27 0.34 0.64 0.42 1.71 0.07 0.28 0.32 0.11
CD 0.05 1.09 1.09 1.82 1.19 4.88 0.22 0.81 NS 0.32
Priming treatments
SE m± 0.52 0.66 0.97 0.51 2.68 0.10 0.29 0.40 0.17
CD 0.05 NS 1.39 NS 1.09 5.66 0.20 0.62 NS 0.36
Priming × Irrigation
SE m± 0.61 1.14 1.68 0.89 4.63 0.16 0.51 0.69 0.29
CD 0.05 1.96 NS NS NS NS 0.37 NS 1.59 NS
Irrigation × Priming
SE m± 0.54 1.04 1.59 0.87 4.36 0.16 0.53 0.68 0.28
CD 0.05 2.03 NS NS NS NS 0.37 NS 1.55 NS

Journal of Eco-friendly Agriculture 18(1) 2023 45

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 Influence of priming and irrigation intervals on growth and fruit yield of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

height by increasing the irrigation interval. A similar days) and maximum (58.83 days) number of days to first
observation was reported by (Al-Ubaydi et al. 2017 and picking of fruits were observed in I1 and I3, respectively. With
Ghannad et al. 2014). Among the priming treatments, P2, P3 respect to priming treatments, minimum days for first picking
and P4 were found to be significantly superior to P1 (dry seed). were recorded in treatment P4 (53.78 days). It was also
The tallest plants were obtained with P4 (65.76 cm) which revealed that P4 was significantly superior to P2 and P1 but
was followed by P2 (65.29 cm) and P3 (62.74 cm) while shortest found to be at par with P3. The maximum days for first picking
plants were obtained with P1 (57.33 cm). Shah et al. (2011) of fruits were observed with P1 (57.89 days). Among the
also reported that seed priming of okra increased its plant interactions, I1P3 was significantly superior to I1P1 but was
height. However, these conclusions are not in agreement with found to be at par with I1P2 and I1P4. At the same level of I3,
Hegazi et al. (2014) who reported that osmo-priming is more the treatment I3P4 was found to be significantly superior to
efficient than hydro-priming. Osmo-priming causes all the remaining treatments.
significant increase in plant height in okra (Omran et al.
1980). The interactions of irrigation intervals and priming Number of pickings
treatment on plant height were found to be non-significant. The irrigation intervals significantly influenced
number of pickings in okra (Table 2). The maximum number
Number of branches plant-1 of picking were observed in I1 (13.33) followed by I2 (12.50)
The number of branches per plant (Table 1) were and I3 (12.00). I1 was found to be significantly superior to I2
maximum under I2 (1.85) which were at par with I1 (1.65). and I3 while, the remaining treatments were found to be at
The minimum number of branches were (1.27) recorded with par with each other. Among the priming treatment, the
I3 and both I2 and I1 were significantly superior to I3. This maximum number of picking were observed in P3 (13.11)
may be due to prolonged water stress experienced by the followed by P2 and P4 (13.00) while minimum number of
plants with 11 days interval, because moisture is necessary pickings were obtained in P1 (11.33). It is apparent from the
for the physiological development, translocation and Table 4.8 that neither of the interaction, P × I or I × P
nutrient uptake of okra. El-Kader et al. (2010) also reported significantly influenced the total number of pickings in okra.
that branches per okra plant decreased when subjected to
stress conditions, and highest number of branches per plant Number of fruits plant-1
were obtained at the shortest irrigation interval. Similar The number of fruits per plant decreased with increase
findings were reported by (Asadipour and Madani 2014; in irrigation intervals. Maximum number of fruits per plant
and Aliyu et al. 2016) who also observed that with the higher (9.24) was observed in I1 which was significantly higher than
number of branches produced the plants with short intervals I2 and I3 (Table 2). All the treatments were significantly
may be as result of benefits derived from sufficient provision different from each other. This might be due to the prolonged
of moisture which enable them to utilize resources efficiently. moisture stress experienced by plants irrigated at 11 days
Among the priming treatments, the maximum number of interval hence resulting in less productivity. Water stress
branches (1.97) was observed in P4 which was significantly before and at the beginning of the flowering stage reduces
superior over other treatments. However, the treatment P3 the number of pods. In addition to water stress, high
(1.47) was found to be at par with P1 (1.36). Similar results temperature and low humidity level also reduce the number
were also reported by (Hegazi et al. 2014). Among the of fruits per plant (Al-Harbi et al. 2008). The results are in
interactions of irrigation intervals and priming treatments, agreement with Radder, (2008) and Anant, (2009) and Khan
the number of branches were significantly higher in I1P4 (2.33) et al. (2005). Among priming treatments, maximum number
followed by I2P4 (2.27) and I2P2 (2.07) which were statistically of fruits per plant were observed in P2 (8.84) followed by P4
at par among themselves. Irrespective of the priming and P3. All these treatments were significantly superior to P1
treatments, the numbers of branches were lower with (dry seed), which produced minimum number of fruits per
increased irrigation intervals and the differences were also plants (8.01). Similar results were also reported by Tania et
significant except P1. al. (2020). Primed seeds with hot water had generally
encouraged smooth germination over non-primed and other
Days to first picking of fruit treatments due to which more yield was obtained from plants
As evident from Table 2 the days to first picking of fruit raised from hot water primed seeds. Mohammadi et al. (2009)
were significantly influenced by irrigation intervals, priming had also reported that priming caused an increase in yield.
treatments and their interactions I×P and P×I. Among the The difference between primed and unprimed seeds in case
irrigation intervals, all the treatments were found to be of number of fruits per plant was two or five which may not
significantly different from each other. The minimum (53.25 be important to small farmers but obviously be a big

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 Mukesh Kumar, A. Harshavardhan Reddy, Puja Rattan and Anju Pathania

difference for commercial farmers. Several studies reported may also be due to corresponding effect of irrigation interval
that seed priming enhance plant vigor and subsequently its on yield component such as number of fruits per plant,
yield. Thus, primed okra seeds improved yield (Rahman et number of branches, plant height which all responded in
al. 2016). Taken together these results, it is suggested that the same manner. Bahadur et al. (2009) and Alieyu et al. (2016)
hydro-priming and halo-priming can improves the yield of also reported reduction in okra yield with increased water
okra. P × I or I × P interaction effects had significant influence stress. Among priming treatments, the maximum fruit yield
on number of fruits per plant. I1P3 produced maximum was obtained with P2 (68.99 g plant-1), (13.80 kg plot-1),
number of fruits per plant (10.07) which were at par with (153.31 q ha-1) followed by P3 (67.86 g plant-1), (13.57 kg plot-1),
I1P2 (9.38) and I1P4 (9.16). I3P1 produced maximum number of (150.79 q ha-1) and P4 (67.49 g plant-1), (13.50 kg plot-1), (149.99
fruits per plant (7.40). q ha-1). All the priming treatments were significantly higher
than dry seeding (control). Priming influenced seed
Average fruit weight (g) germination and plant growth which contributed directly
The average fruit weight (Table 2) was significantly or indirectly in better yield performance in field. Jisha et al.
influenced by irrigation intervals, priming treatments and (2013) also reported that priming improved uniform seed
their interactions. Among irrigation intervals, maximum germination and seedling establishment in various crops.
average fruit weight was observed in I1 (9.88 g) which was Rapid and synchronous field emergence of seedlings are
significantly superior to I2 and I3. The higher pod weight two important pre-requisites to increase yield (Finch-Savage,
recorded from 5 and 8 days irrigation intervals could be as a 1995). Beneficial effects of hydro-priming on seedling
result of availability of moisture for photosynthesis and emergence, biological yield and grain yield per unit area
translocation of photosynthates for pod development which have also been reported by Kahlon et al. (1992) in wheat,
is limited at 11 days interval. West (2004) also reported that Bastia et al. (1999) and Hussain et al. (2006) in sunflower.
frequent irrigation increase size and weight of fruit. Among The interactions between irrigation intervals and priming
priming treatments, P2, P4 and P3 registered significantly treatments had significant effect on fruit yield per plant. The
higher average fruit weight of 9.43 g, 9.39 g and 8.97 g, higher fruit yield per plant was produced by I1P3 (78.47 g
respectively. All treatments were significantly superior over plant -1), (15.70 kg plot -1), (174.37 q ha -1) which was
P1 (8.38 g). Interactions also had a significant impact on the significantly superior over the remaining treatments. I1P2
average fruit weight. The highest average fruit weight was (71.75 g plant-1), (14.35 kg plot-1), (159.44 q ha-1) and I1P4
obtained in I1P3 (11.09 g) which was significantly superior (70.35 g plant-1), (14.07 kg plot-1), (156.33 q ha-1) were found
over remaining treatments. The next best treatment was I1P2 to be at par with each other but all treatments were
(10.27 g). In case of osmo-priming the average fruit weight significantly higher than I1P1 (63.69 g plant-1), (12.74 kg
was not affected by the irrigation intervals but in hydro- plot-1), (141.54 q ha-1). At I2 irrigation interval, all priming
priming and dry seeding the differences is significantly treatments were significantly superior to dry seeding
different. (control) which gave lowest fruit yield. Similar trend was
also observed with I3 irrigation interval and priming
Fruit yield plant-1 (g), plot-1 (kg) and hectare-1 (q) treatments.
The fruit yield per plant as well as per plot and per
hectare (Table 2) was significantly influenced by different Root length
irrigation intervals. I1 gave significantly highest fruit yield The irrigation intervals and priming treatments
(71.06 g) plant-1, (14.21 kg plot-1), (157.92 q ha-1) followed by significantly influenced the root length (Table 1). The lowest
I2 (63.55 g plant-1), (12.71 kg plot-1), (141.22 q ha-1) and I3 (58.52 root length was observed in I1 (8.15 cm) followed by I2 (9.88
g plant-1), (11.70 kg plot-1), (130.04 q ha-1). On the other hand, cm). The longest root length was observed in I3 (11.05 cm).
I2 was found to be at par with I3. The significant reduction of Similar results were also reported by Hussein et al. (2011).
yield with increase in irrigation interval may also be due to Among the priming treatments, the lowest root length was
overall effects of water on okra development at vegetative observed with P1 (9.03 cm) followed by P2 (9.60 cm) and P3
and reproductive phases. Total yield of okra per hectare (9.94 cm). The longest root length was observed with P4 (10.22
significantly decreased with increase in irrigation interval, cm). The osmo-priming and hydro- priming have been
this indicated negative effect of water stress which reduced reported to promote vigorous root growth and shoot growth
okra total yield per hectare by accelerating leaf senescence. in soybean and cumin (Yuan-Yuan et al. 2010). However,
Thus, drought stress has been reported to reduce the effect of priming and interaction between irrigation
translocation of assimilate from the leaves to the fruits. intervals and priming treatments were found to be non-
Reduction in total yield with increasing irrigation interval significant.

Journal of Eco-friendly Agriculture 18(1) 2023 47

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 Influence of priming and irrigation intervals on growth and fruit yield of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]

Chlorophyll “a” enhanced growth (Chen and Arora 2011). This could be
Chlorophyll “a” was influenced non-significantly by further reinforced where stomata conductance and relative
irrigation intervals and priming treatments (Table 2). chlorophyll contents of melon plants resulting from primed
However, the interactions were significant. The maximum seeds were almost higher than those of the corresponding
content of chlorophyll “a” were observed in I1P4 (6.83 mg) unprimed ones (Sivritepe et al. 2005). However, the
which was at par with I1P2 (6.40 mg), I2P3 (6.34 mg) and I2P1 interactions P × I or I × P were found to be non-significant for
(6.02 mg) but significantly higher than remaining treatments. Chlorophyll “b”.
Similar results were also reported by Hegazi et al. (2014).
CONCLUSION
Chlorophyll “b” It was concluded that the irrigation given at 5 days
The effect of irrigation intervals and priming treatments intervals proved best with respect to minimum number of
on chlorophyll “b” content was found to be significant. From days to 50 per cent emergence, number of days to 50 per cent
the Table 2, it is revealed that the maximum chlorophyll “b” flowering, days to first picking of fruits and recorded
content was recorded in I1 (2.09 mg) followed by I3 (1.91 mg) maximum inter-nodal length, number of nodes, plant height,
and I2 (1.44 mg). Among the priming treatments, maximum number of pickings, number of fruits per plant, average fruit
content of chlorophyll “b” was recorded with 3% KNO3 (2.06 weight and fruit yield, longest root length and chlorophyll
mg) followed by dry seed (1.97 mg) and hydro-priming (1.75 “b” while irrigation at 8 days intervals recorded maximum
mg). The minimum content of chlorophyll “b” was observed number of branches per plant. Among priming treatments,
in 3 per cent KCL (1.52 mg). Similar results were also reported hydro-priming recorded maximum inter-nodal length,
by Hegazi et al. (2014). The priming enhancement effect of number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight and fruit
photosynthetic pigments has been suggested to be attributed yield while minimum days to 50 per cent flowering, number
to an improved germination performance and plant tolerance of picking were observed in 3 per cent KCL. The 3 per cent
under temperature or water stress that would be reflected as KNO3 recorded minimum days to first picking of fruits and

Table 2. Effect of irrigation intervals on fruit yield and yield parameters in different priming treatments of okra
Irrigation Priming Days to first Number of Number of Average fruit Fruit yield Fruit yield Fruit yield q
intervals treatments picking pickings fruits plant-1 weight (g) kg plant-1 kg plot-1 ha-1
5 days interval Dry seed 54.67 11.67 8.35 8.02 63.69 12.74 141.54
Hydro-priming 53.67 14.00 9.38 10.27 71.75 14.35 159.44
KCL (3%) 51.33 14.33 10.07 11.09 78.47 15.70 174.37
KNO3 (3%) 53.33 13.33 9.16 10.16 70.35 14.07 156.33
Mean 53.25 13.33 9.24 9.88 71.06 14.21 157.92
8 days interval Dry seed 57.00 11.33 8.30 9.01 50.62 10.13 112.50
Hydro-priming 55.67 12.67 8.98 9.69 70.83 14.17 157.40
KCL (3%) 55.67 13.00 8.20 8.69 64.59 12.92 143.52
KNO3 (3%) 54.00 13.00 8.12 8.28 68.17 13.63 151.49
Mean 55.58 12.50 8.40 8.91 63.55 12.71 141.22
11 days interval Dry seed 62.00 11.00 7.40 8.12 45.22 9.05 100.48
Hydro-priming 60.33 12.33 8.16 8.35 64.39 12.88 143.10
KCL (3%) 59.00 12.00 8.18 8.41 60.51 12.10 134.47
KNO3 (3%) 54.00 12.67 8.45 8.48 63.96 12.80 142.14
Mean 58.83 12.00 8.04 8.34 58.52 11.70 130.04
Irrigation intervals
SE m± 0.48 0.22 0.17 0.32 1.25 0.25 2.77
CD 0.05 1.36 0.61 0.49 0.92 3.55 0.71 7.90
Priming treatments
SE m± 0.83 0.56 0.22 0.36 1.58 0.32 3.50
CD 0.05 1.77 1.19 0.48 0.76 3.34 0.67 7.41
Priming × Irrigation
SE m± 1.44 0.97 0.39 0.62 2.73 0.55 6.07
CD 0.05 3.19 NS 0.89 1.44 6.22 1.24 13.82
Irrigation × Priming
SE m± 1.34 0.87 0.38 0.63 2.67 0.54 5.94
CD 0.05 2.96 NS 0.86 1.46 6.09 1.22 13.53

48 Journal of Eco-friendly Agriculture 18(1) 2023

doi: 10.5958/2582-2683.2023.00008.4
 Mukesh Kumar, A. Harshavardhan Reddy, Puja Rattan and Anju Pathania

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minimum number of days to 50 per cent emergence, Bastia, D.K., Rout, A.K., Mohanty, S.K. and Prusty, A.M. 1999.
maximum number of branches per plant, while 5 days Effect of sowing date, sowing methods and seed soaking
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