EFFECT OF AZOSPIRILLUM ON THE GROWTH AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERS OF OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.)

Azospirillum is a nitrogen fixing bacterium colonizing the roots of crop plants. It exerts beneficial effects on growth and yield of many economically important crops and extensively used in rice and other cereal crops as biofertilizer. The present study was aimed at to find out the effect of Azospirillum on the growth and biochemical characters of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.) with respect to different types of carriers. The result found that the isolated Azospirillum strains were preliminarily screened under in vitro based on the efficiency of colour and pH change in the culture medium. The selected Azospirillum was mass multiplied in the laboratory and incorporated into the nursery soil through different carriers. Application of Azospirillum bioformulation increased the plant growth and also the dry matter content and it varied with formulations. It also increased the biochemical parameters like total chlorophyll, protein, amino acids, glucose and NR activity. The growth/physiological response were higher in all treatments compared to control. The response was significantly varied between the carriers used for preparation of bioformulation. The application of Azospirillum also increased the soil macro and micro nutrients in the bioformulation applied nursery soil. Among various carrier material tested, the composed coir pith is the superior one.