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BHINDI (OKRA or LADY’S FINGER)




Scientific name : Abelmoschus esculentus
Family : Malvaceae
Origin : Native of South Africa
Area : In A.P.; the area under okra is 6,364 hectares (2007-2008); more than 76% of this area is accounted for in Kurnool, Ranga reddy, Krishna and Guntur districts.

IMPORTANCE:
It contains vitamins A,B and C; and traces of ‘Fe’. Mature fruits and stems containing crude fiber are used in paper industry. The extract obtained from the plant on soaking in water is used as a clarifier in the manufacture of jaggery.
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BOTANY:
Genus Abelmoschus is distinct from Hibiscus in having a deciduous calyx where as in Hibiscus they are persistent. Bhindi is a herbaceous annual with bisexual flowers and erect vegetative growth, with or without branches. The fruit is a capsule which is light green or green or sometimes red in color. The greatest increase in fruit weight, length and diameter occurs during 4th to 6th day after flowering. At this stage the quality will be high. Usually the fiber formation in the pod starts from 5th to 6th day of formation and a sudden increase in fiber content is seen from 9th day. A new variety of IHR 20-31, however retains its tenderness up to 10th day.

CLIMATE:
Bhindi is a warm season crop and requires a long warm growing season. It is susceptible to frost. Seeds of Bhindi will not germinate below 15.6 C. The optimum temperature for germination is 26-30 C. At 42 C and above flower drop occurs.

SOIL:
Bhindi can be grown in all soils, but comes best on sandy loam, friable and well manured soils. It is slightly tolerant to acidity. The optimum Ph range is between 6.0-6.8.

SOWING SEASONS:

In North India : --Summer crop-Early spring (Feb-March)
--Rainy season crop-Late summer (June-July)
In South India :--Bhindi can be grown throughout the year as there is no frost hazard.
First crop -- January-February
Second cop¬-- June-July
Third crop -- September-October

SEED PRODUCTION:
Bhindi is often cross pollinated crop as such an isolation of 400m is to be maintained for producing pure seeds. Seed yield varies from 10-20 q/ha depending on the variety.

SEED RATE:
Summer crop – 20-25 kg/ha
-seed should be water soaked for 24hrs before sowing.
Rainy season crop – 10-12kg/ha


SPACING:
Summer crop-45x15 cm
Rainy season crop-60x30 cm
-seeds are sown direct in field not more than 4cm deep.

MANURIAL REQUIREMENTS:

As basal dressing, at a time of field preparation. FYM @ 12 t/ha.
1)125 kg of CAN/Ammonium sulphate/ha.
2)150 kg of SSP/ha.
3)100 kg of MOP/ha.

As top dressing, application of
1)100 kg of Ammonium sulphate/ha, one month after sowing.
2)2 sprayings of 1%urea at an interval of 10 days, gives excellent results.

INTER CULTURAL OPERATIONS:

An unchecked growth is necessary for sizeable production and hence irrigation once every 10-14 days during cool season and every 6 days in hot weather may be needed.
During Rainy season, weeding and hoeing regularly to keep down the weeds is advantageous.

VARIETIES:

*Recommended by IARI, New Delhi.

Selection1-1: Highly resistant to yellow vein mosaic virus (YVMV)
Yield 50 q/ha.
Pusa sawani: Tolerant to YVMV as it is a symptom less carrier. Pods are deep green and smooth. It starts giving fruits in about 45days.

Pusa Makhmali: Susceptible to YVMV but yields well.

Perkins long green: Recommended for hilly areas.

Darbhanga long: is another good variety.

*Recommended by IIHR, Bangalore.

IHR 20-31: produces long pods with thick flesh which retain tenderness up to 10th day, after blooming. Resistant to YVMV disease.

F1 hybrids: Hybrid vigor has been reported in a varietal combination “Pusa Makhmali” and “white Darbhanga” which gave 60% increased yield over ‘Pusa Makhmali’. Induction of male sterility through irradiation and chemical mutagens could make possible to explicit hybrid seed production in Bhindi.

Abelmoschus manihot: A wild species was found to be almost immune to YVMV.



HARVESTING:
The best time for picking pods is 6-7 days after opening of flowers. In hills where weather is cooler.8-9 days old fruits may be picked. Harvest the fruits continuously on every alternate day, from the time the first pods are formed. Growth and bearing of plants are adversely affected if the fruits not harvested when young.

The crops mature in about 80-90days in summer and 90-100days in rainy season.

YEILD:
--50 g/ha in summer crop.
--100g/ha in rainy season crop.