Vol. 13, Issue 9 (2024)

Author(s):
Konduru Megha Sainadh, Sobita Simon and Abhilasha A Lal

Abstract:
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) is one of the important vegetable crop, grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Cercospora leaf spot caused by Cercospora abelmoschi is one of the most dreaded disease and a major production constraint for the successful cultivation of okra crop in India. Four botanicals viz., lemongrass essential oil, cinnamon essential oil, mahua essential oil, and neem oil were tested @ 1% along with propiconazole 25 EC @ 0.1% in vivo during Zaid 2020-2021 for their efficacy against disease, plant growth parameters and yield. Among the essential oils, plant height (43.51 cm), leaf area (1275.99 cm2), number of nodes per plant (11.83), number of fruits per plant (21.00) and yield (39.04 q/ha) is significantly increased and disease intensity (%) (41.28%) is significantly decreased in T₄- neem oil @ 1% followed by T₃- mahua essential oil @ 1%, T₁- lemongrass essential oil @ 1% and T₂- cinnamon essential oil @ 1% when compared to T₀- control (untreated check). Higher gross return value (Rs. 62,464/ha), net return value (Rs. 41,964/ha) and B:C ratio (2.04) was found in the treatment T₄- neem oil followed by T₃- mahua essential oil, T₁- lemongrass essential oil and T₂- cinnamon essential oil when compared to T₅- propiconazole and T₀- control.