Comparative evaluation of organic herbicides for okra weed management

Two field experiments were conducted at the Department of Vegetable Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, to investigate the impact of various weed control treatments on weed growth and okra production. Weed management is a significant challenge in organic okra farming, often relying on labour-intensive and environmentally harmful mechanical methods. This study explored the herbicidal properties of organic products, including coconut vinegar made from coconut water, Cashew nut shell Liquid and clove leaf oil. These products were evaluated in conjunction with other organic weed management strategies, including the stale seedbed technique, mango leaf mulching, and hand-weeding. The results showed that coconut vinegar herbicide (CVH) with 12.5% acetic acid was the most effective concentration for weed management. Its herbicidal properties were further enhanced when mixed with 4% clove leaf oil (Clove leaf oil herbicide - CLOH). In organic okra cultivation, CLOH with 4% clove leaf oil showed better growth and yield characteristics than those achieved through hand-weeding. The most cost-effective option among the treatments was single-spray CLOH, which achieved the highest benefit-cost (B:C) ratio of 1.54, providing a financially viable alternative to labour-intensive hand-weeding.