Effect of foliar application of moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf extract with recommended fertilizer on growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)

A field experiment was carried out at the Crop farm of Eastern University, Sri Lanka during the period June 2018 to September 2018 to study the effects of different concentrations and frequencies of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) Leaf Extract (MLE) as a foliar application on growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) plants. This experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates with the following treatments; T0 – control (Distilled water), T1 – 10% MLE at once a week interval, T2 – 10% MLE at once in two weeks interval, T3 – 20% MLE at once a week interval, T4 – 20% MLE at once in two weeks interval, T5 – 30% MLE at once a week interval and T6 – 30% MLE at once in two weeks interval. Foliar application of MLE was initiated at two weeks after germination and each plant is sprayed with 25 ml of MLE and the growth performance was recorded at 4, 6 and 7 WAP. The results showed that foliar application of MLE had a significant (p < 0.05) effects on tested parameters of okra over the control at all growth stages. MLE with 10% of the foliar application at once a week interval increased plant height, number of branches/plant, number of leaves/plant, leaf area index, dry weight of leaves, stems, roots, total biomass, number of pods/ha and dry weight of pods. The results suggest that under the conditions in the experiment, yield could be increased by three-fold using MLE at 10%. The use of Moringa leaf extract as a plant growth booster is inexpensive, environmentally safe and low-cost technology to improve the yields by the small farmers.