Abstract

This study was done to investigate the influence of irrigation intervals and cultivars on growth, flowering and fruits qualities of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.). The experiment was conducted using Randomize Complete Block Design (RCBD) in Split-Plot Design at the vegetable field, Department of Horticulture and Gardening Landscape, College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad, Iraq. Two cultivars of okra were used: Local investigated (V1) and Copra cultivar (V2). The irrigation was done every 3 (T1), 5 (T2) and 7 days (T3) or irrigation depends on plants need (T4). The cultivars were used as main factor and irrigation intervals as subfactor. The local cultivar showed a significant increase in (V1) in the time of flowering initiation, no. of flowers/plant, and fruits total soluble solids (TSS), while copra cultivar gave a significant increase in the no. of branches/plant, no. of leaves/plant and the fruit length. There are no significant influences between cultivars in plant height, the fruit diameter, dry matter % and fruit firmness. Irrigation every 3 days (T1) positively affected the growth parameter and thus enhanced the flowering initiation, the flower initiation, and increased fruit diameter and fruit firmness. The irrigation every 5 days (T2) increased the number of flowers and the length of fruits, while the irrigation every 7 days (T3) influenced the fruit dry matter percentage and TSS. The interaction between the experimental factors was significant in all the studied parameters.

Key words: Okra, irrigation intervals, vegetative growth, flowering, total soluble solids (TSS), dry matter %.