Influence of Temperature and Moisture Stress from Sodium Chloride Salinization on Okra Emergence¹

Abstract

Abstract Okra ( Hibiscus esculentus L.) seed were planted in a Scranton fine sand soil at 20, 25, and 30 C with six levels of moisture stress, 1.18, 1.75, 2.41, 4.33, 5.90, and 10.84 atm. Moisture stress was obtained by varying the moisture level in the soil and by NaCl salinization. The emergence rate and fresh plant weight decreased as the temperature decreased and soil moisture stress increased. The optimum temperature and soil moisture stress for total and earliness of emergence was 25 to 30 C and 1.18 atm. No emergence occurred at 10.84 atm of moisture stress and total emergence was reduced only at 5.90 atm and 20 C.