Effect of Spacing on Seed, Protein, and Oil Production of Four Okra Varieties

Abstract

The yield of okra seed of several varieties was measured as affected by spacing during summer and winter planting. Winter plantings were stunted by short day length but two varieties, Evergreen Velvet and White Velvet, were partially adapted to the winter season. During summer plantings the variety Clemson Spineless outyielded other varieties in seed, oil, and protein yields. A major factor in superior yields was a high seed per pod yield. In addition, this variety yields well at high population densities. The optimum population densities were calculated by quadratic regression. For high-yielding varieties, optimum densities are 6-8 plants per square meter. The protein and oil yields obtained compare favorably with those of other protein and oil producing crops of the tropics.