Effect of Harvesting Stages on Seed Yield and Quality of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of harvesting stages i.e. (mature pod of turning stage, brown undried stage and brown dried stage) on seed yield and quality attributes of okra sown at different dates (March 10, March 30, April 19 and May 9) at Agriculture Research Institute Tarnab Peshawar, during 2016 and 2017. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement having sowing dates as the main plot factor, while harvesting stages as sub plot factor was used. The seeds of okra, after harvesting and drying were packed in polythene bags and stored for 0, 3 and 6 months at room temperature. The seed quality attributes were evaluated at the specified storage duration. It is evident from the results that sowing dates, harvesting stages, storage duration and their interaction significantly affected seed yield and quality parameters of okra. The average of two years results showed that maximum pod length (15.23 cm), number of seeds pod -1 (58.09), seed weight pod -1 (3.57 g), 1000 seed weight (g), seed yield (1.72 t ha -1 ), germination (79.61 %) and seed viability (91.85 %) were observed in seeds harvested from plants sown on March 30 as compared to seeds harvested from late sown plants on May 9. Highest hard seed (23.69 %) was recorded in seeds collected from late sown plants on May 9 as compared to other sowing dates. As for as harvesting stages are concerned, maximum seed weight pod -1 (3.57 g), 1000 seed weight (61.33 g), seed yield (1.67 t ha -1 ), germination (81.21 %) and seed viability (91.86 %) was recorded when pods were harvested at brown dried stage. Whereas maximum pod length (15.63cm), highest moisture content (12.57 %) and hard seed (26.85 %) were recorded at mature pod of turning stage. The data on seed quality attributes in relation to storage revealed that the highest seed moisture (13.21 %) and seed viability (91.86 %) was recorded in seeds stored for 0 months, but the mean maximum germination percentage (75.58%) and lowest hard seed (17.46 %) was recorded with seeds stored for 3 months. The seed moisture content, germination percentage and seed viability decreased, while hard seeds increased with increasing seed storage duration. The D x H interaction influenced most of the quality attributes such as seed weight pod -1 , germination, hard seeds, but moisture content and seed viability of the seeds was not significantly affected. The H x S interaction also significantly affected the seed moisture content, germination percentage, hard seed and seed viability. So, it can be concluded that sowing on March 30 with pods harvested at brown dry stage resulted in maximum seed yield and quality and slowed down the deterioration of the seeds during storage.