Plant growth and seed yield response of two okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) cultivars to different nutrient sources.

Abstract

This work was undertaken at the Teaching and Research Farm of Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria. The objectives was to determine the effects of different levels of poultry dropping and 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) of okra. The rates of 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 t/ha of poultry droppings and cow dung and NPK fertilizer at 100 kg /ha, 50 kg p2O5/ha 5okg K2O/ha were applied to experimental plots. The control plots received neither organic nor inorganic fertilizers. Ridges were constructed 75 cm apart each measuring 2m long. Three seeds each were sown into holes made 50 cm apart to 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 done at two weeks after sowing for the plots concerned at the rates described above. Data were taken on plant heights 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 treatment levels combinations. The field experiment was conducted field experiment was conducted from 2009 to 2011 using Randomize Complete Bloch Design in a factorial arrangement with three replicates. Results revealed that plants from plots to which 6 or 8 of poultry droppings/ha was applied performed significantly (P<0.05) better in final plant height (90.3 cm), number of leaves (21) per plot, dry fruit yield/ha, 100-seedweight and total seed (542kg/ha) yield. Results further revealed that greater plant height (101 cm) and seed yield (400 kg/ha) respectively were recorded in LD 88-1 compared to the values of 65 cm and 250 kg/ha for NHAe47-4. It is concluded from this study that application of poultry droppings at 6 or 8 t/ha to okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) mother-plants enhanced growth and seed yield compared other fertilizer treatments. It is therefore recommended that poultry droppings at 6 to 8 t/ha should be applied to mother-plants of okra of these varieties for optimum plant growth and seed yield