Plant growth and seed yield of two okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) cultivars as affected by different nutrient sources

Abstract

The work was undertaken at the Teaching and Research Farm of Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria. The objectives was to determine the effect of different levels of poultry droppings, cow dung and recommended dosage of NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer on plant growth and seed yield of two varieties ( NHAe47-4 and LD88-1 and LD88-1) of okra. The rate of 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 t ha-1 of poultry droppings and cow dung and NPK fertilizer at 100 kg N ha 1, 50 kg p2 O5 ha-1, 50 kg k2 O ha-1 were applied to the experimental plot. The control plot received neither organic nor inorganic fertilizers. Ridges were constructed 75cm apart each measuring 2m long. Three seeds each were sown into holes made 50 cm apart on the ridges. Following emergence, seedlings were thinned to one per stand two weeks after sowing. Manual weeding was also done at four, seven and nine weeks after sowing. Combine NPK fertilizer 15:15:15 application was applied at two weeks after sowing for the plots concerned at the rate described above. Data were taken on plant height at 50% flowering and maturity, number of leaves at maturity, dry fruit yield per ha, 100-seed weight and seed yield per hectare. The 2 varieties by 10 fertilizer treatment levels resulted in 20 treatments combinations. The field experiment was conducted in 2009 to 2011 using Randomized Complete Block Design in a factorial arrangement with three replicates. Results revealed that plants from plots to which 6 or 8 t of poultry droppings per hectare was applied performed significantly (P<0.05) better in final plant height (90.3cm), number of leaves (21) per plant, dry fruit yield per hectare, 100- seed weight and total seed yield (542kg ha-1). Results further revealed that greater plant height (101cm) and seed yield (400kg ha-1) respectively were recorded in LD88-1 compared to the values of 65 cm and 250 kg ha-1 for NHAe47-4. It is concluded from this study that application of poultry droppings at 6 or 8 t ha-1 to okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) mother-plants enhanced growth and seed yield compared to other fertilizer treatments. It is therefore recommended that poultry droppings at 6 to 8 t ha-1 should be applied to mother-plants of okra of these varieties for optimum plant growth and seed yield.