Impact of Organic Bioformulations on Soil Microbial Properties, Yield, and Quality of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

A field experiment was conducted over two consecutive kharif seasons (2020-2021) to evaluate the effect of organic bioformulations on soil microbial properties, yield, and quality of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.). The trial included ten treatments involving combinations of recommended nutrient doses (RDN) with organic inputs such as vermicompost, poultry manure, panchagavya, and jeevamrut. Results revealed that the treatment combining 90% RDN with panchagavya and jeevamrut significantly enhanced microbial biomass carbon (65.02 μg g⁻¹ soil), bacterial (203.3 × 10⁸ cfu g⁻¹), fungal (4.29 × 10³ cfu g⁻¹), and actinomycetes populations (3.69 × 10² cfu g⁻¹), as well as soil enzymatic activities. This treatment also recorded the highest plant height (156.4 cm), dry biomass (63.36 g plant⁻¹), fruit yield (12.58 t ha⁻¹), and quality traits such as fruit length (12.04 cm), diameter (3.88 cm), and TSS (5.46 °Brix). The findings emphasize the effectiveness of integrated organic nutrient management in enhancing soil biological activity and sustainable okra production.