Abstract
Six experiments were conducted at Rangpur, Bangladesh during February 2003 to April 2006 with the objective to increase the yield and quality of okra seed cv. BARI Dherosh-1 through different management practices. The results revealed that the highest seed yield (2107.4 kg/ha) and the best quality seeds with 96.0% germination and 29.82 seed vigor index (SVI) were obtained when the seeds were sown on 15 April at 60 cm x 40 cm plant spacing. The lowest seed yield (472 kg/ha) with inferior quality (59.0% germination & 11.87 SVI) was found from the plants of February sowing with spacing of 60 cm x 30 cm. The highest seed yield (2089.6 kg/ha) and the best quality seed (95-96% germination and 30.43 SVI) were obtained under plant top pruning management along with 12-14 fruit retained per plant, while the lowest seed yield (1497.9 kg/ha) was recorded in plants under no top pruning system having 10 fruits per plant. The 1000-seed weight (69.4g) was the maximum in plants under top pruning system compared to that of no top pruning practice (65.5g). The fruits of 5 to 12 nodal positions in plant and the seeds of middle portion in fruit provided the best quality seeds (97.3% germination and 28.02-28.11 SVI). The mid portion of fruit contained the maximum number of seeds (25.3) over those of apical (14.2) and basal portions (10.9). The 1000-seed weight was also the highest in mid portion of fruit (58.9g). The highest seed yield (1965 kg/ha) and the best seed quality (82.1% germination and 29.59 SVI) were obtained when the crop was fertilized with N-P-K at 74-16-48 kg/ha, respectively. The estimated optimum economic doses of N, P and K as calculated from the regression equation were 76.04, 17.27 and 49.99 kg/ha, respectively. Better quality seeds (97-98% germination and 25.24-27.60 SVI) were obtained when the fruits were harvested within 28-32 days of anthesis and when the seeds were extracted from fruits after 4- 8 days of postharvest ripening. Both early and delay in harvesting (before 28 days and after 32 days of anthesis) deteriorated the seed quality. The moisture content of seeds was the minimum (8.7%) when stored in aluminum foil bag, while it was the highest in seeds stored in earthen pot (16.7%) for a particular period of storage. Among the locally available containers used in the experiment, plastic pot and tin containers were found to be much better and also safe (83-97% germination and 19.35-27.67 SVI) for seed storage up to the next sowing season.