The okra plant originated in the near east and came to america with the slave trade. Pdf nutritional quality and health benefits of okra abelmoschus. In warm, western climates it grows quite tall, reaching heights of up. Identify and diagnose common plant nutrient deficiency and toxicity symptoms 2. Find out more about the potential benefits and risks of eating okra and get some tips on using it.
Okra is a mildtasting vegetable that produces a thick juice to enrich sauces. Okra abelmoschus esculentus is an economically important vegetable crop grown in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. Three seeds of okra cultivar ocra were sown at 50 x 50 cm. The term okra was in the use of english by the late 18th century 12. The pods usually gathered while they are green, tender, and at the immature stage.
Okra also has industrial applications and is used in. Journal of soil science and plant nutrition, 2011, 11 3, 4555. The fruit is a long pod, generally ribbed and spineless in cultivated varieties. When you plant the okra, it may be helpful to plant it in shifts so that you can get an even flow of ripe crops throughout the summer.
With attractive foliage and flowers that resemble those of a hibiscus, okra looks as though it belongs in the flower garden. Okra hibiscus esculentus whole seeds and their kernels were analysed for their nutrient composition. Woldegiorgis abstract okra abelmoschus esculentus is an economically important vegetable crop grown in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. Okra is fast gaining a reputation as a socalled superfood for people with or at risk of diabetes or cancer. Okra, also known as ladys finger, or bamia pod is one of the favorite. The mature plant is quite tall, with the stem usually ranging. Pods will vary in length, color and smoothness depending on the variety. Okra holds up well to pests, scarce water, and even intense heat. The term okra most commonly refers to the edible seedpods. The plant produces large, hibiscuslike flowers and green seed pods. Amend soil with 3 to 5 inches of compost or other organic matter prior to planting. Okra plants are extremely drought, and heat resistant and okra is a popular vegetable in many countries with difficult growing conditions. Okra, beans, peanuts, and grains contain lectin, which is a type of protein.
The nutrients in okra may make it useful for preventing several health problems, including. Manual harvesting of the okra fruits began from 45 days after planting until 15. Ammonium nitrate increases the soil and plant nutrients and also had liming effects. Pdf okra is an economically important vegetable crop grown in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. The plants can handle dry conditions, but regular water is definitely beneficial. Okra contains carbohydrate, protein and vitamin c in large quantities adeboye and oputa, 1996. Okra is suitable for cultivation as a garden crop as well as on large commercial farms. You can start okra seeds indoors in peat pots under full light 3 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost date in warmer areas, you can also start okra directly in your garden 3 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost date as long as you cover the plants with a cold frame or grow tunnel until the weather warms up fully. Cotton is the most important economic plant belonging to the mallow family. This plant is well known for its green seed pods which are edible. Watering and fertilizing okra its time to think about fertilizing okra after the seedlings reach 6 inches tall. Okra has a subtle taste, similar to the flavor of eggplant. The term okra most commonly refers to the edible seedpods of the plant. Okra, also known as ladys fingers, is a green flowering plant.
Understand how to use a key for identifying deficiency symptoms 4. Nutritional quality and health benefits of okra abelmoschus esculentus. Okras plant name is abelmoschus esculentus or hibiscus esculentus. To avoid this disease, do not plant okra, eggplant, or tomatoes in the same field more than once every 4 years. Pdf nutritional quality and health benefits of okra. The family of okra abelmoschus esculentus and cotton gossypium hirsutum is malvaceae, okra is one of the oldest cultivated crops, it was recorded by the egyptians in 1216 a.
Okra grades and standards agricultural marketing service. Two or more sidedressings with a high analysis nitrogen material may be needed, however, depending on rainfall. Okra grows well in very rich soil thats packed with nutrients. The plant cultivated throughout the tropical and warm temperate regions around the world for their phytonutrients rich pods. Chemical composition and biological evaluation of okra. The essential and nonessential amino acids that okra contains are comparable to that of soybean. You can enrich your soil using compost, bagged organic fertilizer, or 466 slow release fertilizer. Cooking in two skillets, or two batches, will allow the okra to get extra crispy. Okra, also known as ladys finger, or bamia pod is one of the favorite nutritious vegetables of northeast african origin.
Npk fertilizer treatments on nutrient concentration and uptake of abelmuscus esculentus and soil chemical. It is cultivated for the pods, which are harvested in the immature stage and used in salads and soups. Plantbased diets have been shown effective in preventing, managing and treating diabetes. Okra is commonly grown in the south due to its robust nature. The use of additional nitrogen should be avoided on vigorous plantings until fruiting begins to check plant growth. Objectives after reading this module, the reader should be able to. Botanically, okra is a perennial flowering plant belongs to the malvaceae mallows family. Okra is a good source of folate, with 1 cup 100 grams providing 15% of a womans daily needs for this nutrient. The okra plant is an annual, requiring warm humid climates preferably where temperatures go above 85 degrees f. From arabia, the plant spread around the shores of the mediterranean sea and eastward. Nearly 10 percent of the recommended levels of vitamin b6 and folic acid are also present in a half cup of cooked okra. It is a green flowering plant that is thought to have originated in asia and western africa. Additionally, the plant produces high yields throughout its season, making it a very rewarding experience for even the least experienced gardeners. Once your growing okra is up and out of the ground, thin the plants to about 1 foot 30 cm.
Okra is a tropical plant that is grown as an annual vegetable. Okra also known as ladysfingers, gumbo, or bhindiis the most important vegetable crop of the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Effect of different sources of nutrient on growth and yield of okra. Karrie heneman, assistant project scientist, department of nutrition, university of california, davis. The lack of a word for okra in the ancient languages of india suggests that it arrived there in the common era. Unblanched okra will quickly become tough and suffer huge nutrient, flavor and color loss during freezing. Soil nutrient level gets decreased over time when crop plants get harvested, and these nutrients get replenished either through natural decomposition process or. Okra seeds have been used on a small scale for oil production. Journal of food gemede et al, food process echnol 21. In west africa, leaves, buds, and flowers of okra are also consumed. Preliminary rat studies show that okra may help improve blood glucose levels 1. A plantbased diet can help prevent or reverse heart disease, the number 1 killer of americans. Botanically, it is called abelmoschus esculentus and belongs to the family malvaceae. Either way, till the soil to a depth of 12 inches 30.
Mineral nutrition of vegetables can influence their development with. Fiber is the structural part of plant foods which cannot be. That being said, some people fail to appreciate it due to its slimy texture. Make sure that the covering is 2 to 3 feet tall so. Inefficient use of fertilizers is the major factor to constrain desired crop. Effects of soil amendments on the nutritional quality of okra.
It is also known as bhindi, ladys fingers and bhendi. University of kentucky cooperative extension service. Nutrition and health info sheet vegetarian diets emily r. Closely related to the cotton plant, okra seed pods are harvested when immature. Okras nutritional content may come as a surprise to. Okra history the origin of the species abelmoschus esculentus remains obscure, especially as it is not found in the wild. Get full nutrition facts and other common serving sizes of okra including 1 oz and 8 pods.
Most of the protein and fat of the seed is accumulated in the kernel while crude fiber is concentrated in the seed coat or hull. Okra has been used throughout history for both culinary and medicinal reasons. It can be also used as noncaffeinated substitute for coffee. Okra promotes a healthy pregnancy an extremely important b vitamin for producing and maintaining new cells, folate is an essential compound for optimal. The okra plant has a sensitive balance between vegetative foliage production and reproduction pod production. Abelmoschus esculentus okra is an important medicinal plant of tropical and subtropical india. Commercial okra production uga cooperative extension. Freezing is the best method for long term home storage of okra. Okra is a multipurpose crop valued for its tender and delicious pods. Sheri zidenbergcherr, uc cooperative extension nutrition science specialist, department of nutrition, university of california, davis.
Summary eating okra may help pregnant women meet their daily folate needs. Production and quality of okra produced with mineral and organic. The name okra probabily derives from one of nigercongo group of languages the name for okra in the twi language is nkuruma 11. Okra abelmoschus esculentus are known in many englishspeaking countries as ladys fingers or gumbo is a flowering plant in the mallow family, related to cotton and hibiscus. The term okra was in use in english by the late 18th century. Okra plants do best when they receive regular water, although they are able to tolerate mild drought conditions very well. As mentioned, okra is rich in numerous vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that are responsible for the health benefits the plant has to offer. However, okra nutrition facts set this nightshade vegetable apart as a nutritional powerhouse. It belongs to the genus abelmoschus and family malvaceae. The watertransporting cells in the plant become clogged with fungi, and the plants droop and wilt. The plant was introduced to the americas by ships plying the atlantic slave trade by 1658, when its presence was recorded in brazil. Nearly half of its nutrition is a soluble fiber in the form of gums and pectins. Moench, is a vegetable with annual fruit native to hot.
Nutritional evaluation of okra pod and mother soil as influenced by. An overview of okra production, processing, marketing. Nutrient uptake by abelmuscus esculentus and its effects on. Commonly referred to as ladyfingers, or by its biological names abelmoschus esculentus and hibiscus esculentus, okra is known to have a positive effect on blood. Pdf three promising okra varieties bemisal, sabz pari and reshum were evaluated for consecutive two years against seven npk levels. Okra belongs to the same plant family as hibiscus and cotton.