Effect of seaweed liquid extract of Sargassum wightii on on growth and yield of okra

AbstractA comprehensive approach to production management system is the organic farming to improve the health of the agro-ecosystem by fostering biological cycles, biodiversity, and biological activity in the soil. Severe health and environmental risks, including soil erosion, water pollution, pesticide poisoning, water logging, salinisation, and loss of biodiversity, have been brought on by chemical fertilisers. A new generation of natural organic fertilisers, seaweed extract contains a very effective and nutritious source that accelerates seed germination, increases production, and imparts resistance in a variety of crops. Seaweed has a lot of potential for economic exploitation and is a cheap and abundant resource in coastal agricultural areas. In general, the physiological processes involved in plant development and nutrient uptake can be altered by seaweed extracts. The present research investigation was carried out at Horticultural College and Research Institute for Women, Tiruchirappalli, in order to investigate the impact of seaweed liquid fertiliser of Sargassum wightii on yield and quality characteristics of okra variety CO 4. The goal was to find a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable nutrient management technique for okra. Six treatments and four replications were included in the Randomised Block Design (RBD) trial setup. The seaweed extract was sprayed topically during the studies. After sowing, seaweed extract at concentrations of 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, and 5.0% was sprayed on 25th, 35th and 45th day after sowing. The plants were observed for the shoot length (cm), leaf count, leaf area (cm2), leaf chlorophyll index, root length (cm), fruit yield (g/plant), and number of fruits per plant were all measured. The highest shoot length (47.30 cm), number of leaves (16.7), leaf area (130.50 cm2), chlorophyll content (70.33), root length (20.33 cm), and fruit weight per plant (274.44 g/plant) were reported by plants treated with 2.0% seaweed extract. The amount of chlorophyll in plants treated with 2% seaweed liquid fertiliser increased to 70.33. Nonetheless, the ideal concentration of seaweed liquid extracts is required because, in this investigation, 2.0% LSF had a greater impact on the development and yield of bhindi plants. The study also highlights the value of seaweed extracts as organic biostimulants for vegetable crops and how beneficial they are in the organic farming practices.