EFFECT OF BIO AND CHEMICAL FERTILIZATION ON YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) UNDER SOHAG CONDITIONS

The study was carried out at the Experimental Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt during of 2015 and 2016 seasons. The experiment amid to investigate the efficiency of biofertilizers i.e. ( Nitrobin, Phosphorine and Potasiomag) as an effective alternative for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium chemical fertilizer on okra green fruits and protein percentage. NPK chemical fertilizers were added at four rates i.e. (43.75, 87.5, 131.25 and 175 kg N/fed.), (15, 30, 45 and 60 kg P 2 O 5 /fed.) and (12.5, 25, 38 and 50 kg K 2 O/fed.), respectively. The four rates represent 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and the whole recommended dose of NPK according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt. Two okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) cultivars i.e. Balady and Eskandrani were used in this study. The obtained results indicated that there were significant differences between the two okra cultivars and among different fertilizer treatments in most studied characteristics in both studied seasons. The interaction between Eskandrani cultivar and bio-fertilizers plus 3/4 NPK significantly enhanced vegetative growth traits, green fruits yield characteristics and its components as well as seed yield characteristics except number of seeds/pod in both seasons. However, the highest protein percentage recorded when Eskandrani cultivar fertilized by recommended dose of chemical NPK or bio-fertilization plus 1/2 NPK or bio-fertilization plus 3/4 NPK with no significant differences among them in both seasons.