Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield, and economics of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) in Terai region of Nepal

Heavy reliance on synthetic fertilizers in intensive vegetable farming has raised severe concerns regarding soil health degradation and long-term agricultural sustainability. To address this challenge and identify sustainable nutrient management alternatives for okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) production, a field trial was conducted at the Directorate of Agricultural Research, Tarahara, Sunsari, Nepal. The experiment was organized using a Randomized Complete Block Design with nine treatments and three replications. The findings demonstrated that nutrient management strategies significantly influenced crop performance. The 125% RDF (Recommended dose of fertilizer) application (T3) recorded the maximum numerical fruit yield (54.09 t ha⁻¹) and profitability (B:C ratio 1.71, based on 2023 NPR). However, a critical observation was that the integrated nutrient management package (T5: 50% RDF + 50% FYM) produced a yield (46.27 t ha⁻¹) that was statistically at par with T3 and numerically higher than the national RDF (T2: 45.74 t ha⁻¹). Sole organic treatments, such as T4, were more successful for early vegetative establishment because they recorded the highest plant heights during the vegetative stage, which is a result of better soil physical characteristics. T5 is therefore the best approach for attaining high productivity while promoting environmental sustainability in the Terai region, as this research confirms that 50% of synthetic fertilizer load can be substituted with organic sources without any statistically significant yield reduction.