PERFORMANCE OF OKRA (Abelsomoschus esculentus L. Moench) AND TOMATO (Lycopersicum lycopersicum Kart) MIXTURES AS INFLUENCED BY POULTRY MANURE

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of Crop Production Department, Federal University Technology Minna, Gidan Kwanu Compus to determine the performance of okro and tomato mixtures as influenced by poultry manure. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments consisted of four planting patterns, sole cropping with poultry manure, sole cropping without poultry manure, okro intercropped with tomato in ratio 2:1 with poultry manure and okro intercropped with tomato in ratio 2:1 without poultry manure. There was significant differences (p<0.05) in the plant height among sole and inter cropped. Intercropped okro and tomato that was supplied with poultry manure produced highest plant height. Highest number of fruits and fruit weight were recorded in okro intercropped with tomato and supplied with poultry manure over sole crops. In terms of land use efficiency, intercropped okro and tomato resulted in highest Land Equivalent Ratio (LER).The result showed that, the application of poultry manure roduced the best yield in okro and tomato intercrop over sole cropping and could be recommended for farmers in Guinea savannah agro-ecological zones of Nigeria.