Yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) Varieties as Influenced by the Application of Cow Dung and Poultry Manure in Jega, Kebbi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Field trials were conducted at the Fadama Teaching and Research farm Jega, Kebbi state University of Science and Technology Aliero, during the 2017 and 2018 dry seasons, to study the Yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) Varieties as Influenced by Cow Dung and Poultry Manure Application. The treatments consisted of two (2) manure levels (Cow dung 12 t ha-1 and Poultry manure 6.6 t ha-1); each were designed to supply 120 kg N ha-1 using cow dung and poultry manure and three (3) varieties of okra namely LD88, NHAE47-4 and Dogo variety which were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. The results obtained revealed that yield parameters such as Number of pods per plant (13.08 and 14.11), Mean pod weight (17.59 g and 19.31 g), Mean pod length (6.13 cm and 6.83 cm), Fresh pod weight per plant (0.19 kg and 23 kg) and Pod yield (5.65 and 6.38 t ha-1) were significantly increased when the nitrogen dose of 120 kgN ha-1 was applied using PM 6.6 t ha-1 in conjunction with NHAE47-4 in both 2017 and 2018. Mean pod diameter (cm) was statistically similar with both the application of CD 12 t ha-1 and PM 6.6 t ha-1. Significant interaction effect was observed between variety and manure on Number of pod plant-1 (13.97 and 13.43), and Pod yield (6.21 and 7.29 t ha-1) in both 2017 and 2018 while Mean pod diameter (3.42 cm) in only 2017. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that in Jega, Kebbi state of Nigeria which falls within the Sudan Savannah agro-ecological zone, NHAE47-4 okra variety yields better than Dogo and LD88. Therefore, NHAE47-4 variety in conjunction with PM 6.6t ha-1 application could be selected for increased okra production in the study area.