@article{Nandwani:253114,
      recid = {253114},
      author = {Nandwani, Dilip and Dennery, S. and Forbes, V. and Geiger,  T. and Sandhu, R.K.},
      title = {EFFECT OF BIOSTIMULANTS ON THE YIELD PERFORMANCE OF  ORGANICALLY-GROWN OKRA CULTIVARS IN THE U.S. VIRGIN  ISLANDS},
      address = {2015},
      number = {539-2016-38637},
      pages = {8},
      year = {2015},
      abstract = {Okra is one of the widely grown vegetables for the  commercial market in the United
States Virgin Islands and  the rest of the Caribbean. Plant biostimulants or  agricultural
biostimulants include diverse substances and  microorganisms that are derived from commercial
marine  algae extracts, enhance plant growth of fruits and  vegetables. Plants of eight cultivars of
okra (Abelmoschus  esculentus) were treated weekly with Stimplex® (5 mL/L)  liquid seaweed
extract of Ascophyllum nodosum and Biozest®  (100 mL/5L) crop hiostimulant as foliar spray to
assess  their influence on yields. Half of the plants in a row (5  plants) were sprayed weekly and
half of the plants  (5plants) were untreated (control). Eight cultivars of okra  ca. Clemson Spineless
80, Red Burgundy, Clemson Spineless,  Jambalaya, Red Velvet, Annie Oakley II, Perkins
Mammoth and  Chant were investigated. The experimental design was a  randomized complete
block with 3 replications and consisted  of rows spaced 3' apart and spaced 2' between the  plants
within a row. They were organically managed. Results  showed that Biozest® treated plants of
most of the  cultivars responded positively. Marketable yields were  higher with Biozest® treated
plants of Clemson Spineless 80  (0.5%), Annie Oakley II (27.9%), Perkins Mammoth  (49%),
jambalaya (41.2), Chant (16%) and Red Burgundy (60%)  than with the untreated control. Higher
marketable yields  were obtained with Stimplex® treated plants of Jambalaya  (62%), Red
Burgundy (58%) and Perkins Mammoth (30%) than  with the untreated control. Cultivars produced
lower or  non-significant yields with Clemson Spineless 80, Clemson  Spineless, Red Velvet, Annie
Oakley II and Chant. The  results show that biostimulants may increase yields in  okra. However,
further research trials are needed to fully  explain the effects of biostimulants in  commercial
production.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/253114},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.253114},
}