OKRA PRODUCTION WITH PINE STRAW MULCH

Conventional planted okra in Booneville, Arkansas and Lorman, Mississi ppi were mulched with loblolly pine straw (Pinus taeda L.) and longlea f pine straw (P. palustris Mill.), respectively, at a rate of 11 t/ha or left bare. At Booneville, plant stand, season yields (18.6 t/ha), p od weight (16.3 g), plant dry weight (2.3 kg), or stem diameter (3.5 c m) were not affected by the loblolly pine mulch. However, mulch applic ation increased pod number (1.22 vs. 1.06 x 10(6)/ha) and plant height (1.5 vs. 1.6 m), while reducing weed competition (0.05 vs. 0.40 t/ha) and visible plant stress, during periods of soil moisture deficits. S oil temperatures at 5 and 15 cm depth were reduced by mulch until mid- August when plant canopies covered the rows. Seasonal moisture at 30 a nd 45 cm depths was similar between mulched and bare soils, based upon unreplicated neutron probe measurements. At Lorman, season okra yield (29.8 vs. 24.6 t/ha), number of pods per ha (1.24 vs. 1.07 x 10(6)) a nd weed competition were reduced and soil pH lowered 0.56 units by lon gleaf pine straw mulch. Mulch reduced early season yield at both locat ions.