EFFECTS OF POULTRY MANURE RATE ON THREE VARIETIES OF OKRA (Abelmoschus Esculentus L. Moench)

Abstract

The field trial was conducted at the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Samaru, during the wet season to study the effect of poultry manure rate (0.2.4 and 6 t/ha) on three varieties of okra ( Abelmoschus Esculentus L. Moench), Jokoso, velvet and NAE47-4). The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Three seeds were sown per hole at a spacing of 40cm apart on ridges according to treatment. The seedlings were thinned to one plant per stand at four weeks after sowing (4WAS). Manure application was done 3 days before planting by incorporating (0, 2.4.6t/hac) where 0t/hac serves as the control into the soil along rows of the ridges by making shallow grooves about 5cm as per treatment. The results obtained indicated that the application of poultry manure at different rates significantly influences the vegetative and fruit yields parameter of okra. Application of 6t/hac of poultry manure significantly increase plant height and the number of leaves per plant but did not have any significant effects on the number of days to flower. Application of 6t/hac increases the number of fruit per plot, fresh fruit weight, length of fresh fruit, and the diameter of fresh fruit. Dry fruit number and dry fruit weights were also increased by the application of 6t/hac of poultry manure. Application of 2t/hac of poultry manure also increases the number of plants per plot, number of leaves per plant, number of fruit per plot, fresh fruit weight, fruit length and fruit diameter. In conclusion, the result shows that the application of 2t/hac of poultry manure produced the significantly highest fresh fruit yield (130.00) with the Jokoso variety (197.42a ). The optimum performance of okra was obtained at 2t /hac and could be recommended for enhancing the productivity of the crop in the study area.

Keywords: Okra, poultry manure, Effects