Growth and evapotranspiration of Okra (abelmoschus esculentus L.) as influenced by salinity of irrigation water

The effects of irrigation water salinity on growth, yield, and water consumption of okra was investigated with a pot experiment. For this purpose, five irrigation water salinity levels with electrical conductivities of 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 5.0, and 7.0 dS/m and tap water as a control treatment were used in a randomized design with five replications. Irrigation practices were realized by considering the weight of each pot. Threshold soil salinity and slope values of the yield response to soil salinity level were determined to be 3.48 dS/m and 4.2%, respectively, for fruit yield, 4.24 dS/m and 7.0% for vegetative dry weight, and 6.0 dS/m and 7.9% for root dry weight. The results revealed that okra was moderately tolerant to salinity. Increasing soil salinity levels caused significant decreases in plant water consumption. Plant water consumption decreased by 2.43% per unit increase in soil salinity. Plant coefficient ([K.sub.y]) was 1.26. Saline irrigation water treatments altered Cl, Mg, Ca, and Na accumulations in leaves, whereas only Na accumulation in fruits was observed. DOh 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9437(2008)134:2(160) CE Database subject headings: Evapotranspiration; Irrigation; Salinity; Parameters.