Rice straw biochar and irrigation effect on yield and water productivity of okra

Dry season vegetable production is challenging due to water scarcity, a drawback on sustaining year‐round crop production. Biochar improves soil moisture and nutrient retention and may be used to improve vegetable water productivity. We examined the combined effect of rice straw biochar and irrigation on yield, water productivity, and phosphorus (P) uptake of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) grown on a sandy clay loam soil in the dry season. Biochar was applied at 0, 5, 10 Mg ha−1, and 10 Mg ha−1 biochar fortified with P [10 Mg ha−1(P)] under full irrigation (FI) and deficit irrigation (DI) and replicated in each growing season for three years. Under DI, the 10 Mg ha−1 and 10 Mg ha−1(P) biochar treatments significantly (p