RESPONSE OF DIFFERENT COLORED PLASTIC MULCHES ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF OKRA (ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS L.)Daleshwar Rajak and Gondra MardiAbstract Field experiments were conducted during kharif seasons of 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018 -2019 at Zonal Research Station, Darisai, East Singhbhum, Jharkhand to study the effect of coloured plastic mulches on growth and yield of okra crop. The experiments were laid out in randomized block design with seven treatments viz; T1 - White plastic mulch, T2 - Black plastic mulch, T3 - Yellow plastic mulch, T4 - Silver black plastic mulch, T5 - blue plastic mulch, T6 - Straw mulch, T7 - Bare soil (without mulch) and were replicated thrice. The results indicated that plant height and number of branches were better for the plants grown over plastic mulches compared to bare soil. The significantly highest yield (180.86 q/ha) was obtained in silver black plastic mulch compared to bare soil (92.52 q/ha). Mulching increased fruit yield relative to bare soil as the plants grown on silver/black plastic mulch indicated a 95% increase in yield compared to control treatment. The silver/black plastic mulch resulted 92.54% reduction in weed. Okra crop with silver/black plastic mulch recorded the highest net income (246496.11Rs/ha) and benefit cost ratio (2.97). |