Response of soil fertilization and insect pollination on okra production: Prospect for optimizing underutilized crop management

Abstract

The contribution of wild pollinators and input-based management practices during production of underutilized crop such as okra are pivotal for enhancing sustainable food production. Information on the beneficial role of insect pollination on okra and soil management practices is scanty, details on their specific response at each location are required to evaluate the potential of these sustainable farming practices. We examined the effects of insect pollination (pollinator-exclusive approach) and soil fertilization (fertilizer application) on okra production, using a factorial experiment arranged in a split-plot design with four replications. The complementary benefits of insect pollination and soil fertilization were evident in yield parameters such as seed weight, fruit nodes and the number of pod/plants. A substantial increase in yield began in trials with 50 % pollination rate under minimal soil fertilization. The increase in okra seed weight was (42 %) and (36 %) higher in optimal fertilized plants with 100 % and 50 % pollination rates than in non-pollinated and unfertilized plants. The similarities in yield observed from optimal fertilized soil with 50 % and 100 % pollination rates, imply that optimal soil fertilization can alleviate the yield reduction in okra due to moderate decline in pollinators exposure. Among the important okra pollinators were bees, flies, wasps, beetles and lepidopterans. Bees provided most pollination services, while other wild pollinator groups made less frequent but still give significant contributions. Thus, yield maximization requires an improvement in both agroecosystem services and soil management practices. Adequate pollinator visitation improves okra productivity in high insect-pollinated cropping systems.

Keywords

• Cropping
• Farming system
• Fertilizer
• Pollinators
• Smallholding
• Yield