Drip irrigation and organic mulch boost okra yields by 65% while saving 15% water
In this study on growing okra, researchers tested different ways to water and cover the soil. They found that using a certain amount of water with drip irrigation, along with organic mulch, led to the highest okra yield while using less water than usual. Soil moisture was highest under the organic mulch. Plants under organic and black-silver mulch had more chlorophyll, a green pigment important for photosynthesis, compared to those without mulch. The stomata, tiny openings in plant leaves, worked best with the organic mulch and black-silver cover. Okra fruits were heaviest when using drip irrigation with the right amount of water along with organic mulch. This method saved water and increased yield by almost 65% compared to the standard practice.