RESPONSE of OKRA (Abelmoschusesculantus (L) Moench) to DIFFERENT SOURCES and LEVELS OF

RESPONSE OF OKRA (Abelmoschusesculantus (L) Moench) TO DIFFERENT SOURCES AND LEVELS OF ORGANIC MANURE IN SUDAN SAVANNA OF NIGERIA.

GASHUA, A.G1, BELLO, T.T.2, MOHAMMED, S.G2, MOHAMMED, I. B.2 and SHEHU, A1

Corresponding author: +2348065052397, +2348025099797

1YOBE STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE GUJBA, 2DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY, BAYERO UNIVERSITY KANO.

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted during 2012 rainy season at Yobe State College of Agriculture Gujba, to evaluate the effect of different sources and levels of organic manure on the growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschusesculantus (L) Moench). The treatments consisted of two varieties of okra, two sources of organic manure with four levels of each, replicated three times and laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The result showed that variety and source did not significantly affect the growth of okra. However, the interaction revealed that there was significant (p<0.05) difference in the number of leaves produced at 6WAS with the highest number of leaves produced when 15t ha-1 of cow dung was applied and the lowest leaves from where no Cow dung was added. Similarly, at 10WAS, there was significant (p<0.05) interaction where the highest leaves were obtained with the application of 10t ha-1 of cow dung. Furthermore, at same 10WAS, interaction revealed significant (p<0.05) difference where Clemson spineless that was treated with 10t ha-1 of cow dung produced the highest leaves with the lowest leaves from same variety that was treated with 10t ha-1 of sheep and goat manure. The results also showed that variety, source and rate did not significantly affect most of the yield and yield attributes of okra. However, the interaction revealed that at 9WAS, okra generally produced the highest number of fruits per plant especially the variety Clemson spineless that was treated with cow dung manure at 10t ha-. Similarly, at 12WAS, the improved variety (Clemson spineless) produced the highest fruit when treated with 10t ha-1 and above of organic manure. The highest fruit weight was also significant (p<0.05) at 9WAS when okra was treated with 10t ha-1 of organic manure. Both varieties produced more than 3t ha-1with the highest values from the okra that was treated with 10t ha-1 of cow dung. Based on this, it is generally recommended that cow dung at 10t ha-1 is ideal for growing okra in the study area and related ecologies.

Key words: Clemson spineless, local okra, Cow dung, Sheep and goat manure.

INTRODUCTION

Okra ( Abelmoschusesculentus (L) Moench ) is a popular vegetable crop grown in most parts of Nigeria and in other tropical and sub-tropical countries. It is a member of Malvaceae (George, 1999) usually grown in Nigeria for its mucilaginous content. The importance of okra as a vegetable crop lies in its ‘drawing quality’ that aids easy consumption of bulky staple foods like Gari, Fufu and pounded yam (Agbogidi and Nweke, 2005). The mucilaginous extract from okra is reportedly useful in curing ulcers as well as for the relief of hemorrhoids and also as a cleansing agent in sugar processing. Schippers (2000) noted that the tender pods contain vitamins A and C and traces of B vitamin. Okra provides good source of calcium and other body building materials that contribute to healthy living. There is increasing awareness throughout the world about organic farming for sustainable agricultural production. Farmers in the study area have been observed to be reluctant in the use of fertilizers on their farms. Okra is grown as a tertiary crop - just as source of soup. The importance of organic manure on vegetable crops like okra is not well known among farmers and that most farmers are only familiar with the local cultivars they inherit from their fore fathers or the ones they cheaply buy at their village markets around. There is need therefore to study the response of okra varieties as influenced by sources and levels of organic manures that are readily available with farmers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Field experiment was conducted in the 2012 farming season at teaching and research farm of Yobe state college of agriculture Gujba. The area has an average amount of annual rainfall of about 400-600mm per annum and the rain started from mid-June to October 2012. A land area of 1006.25m2 was marked out for the experiment and the field divided in to three blocks with sixteen plots on each block. Each plot was sized 3m x 3m (9m2). Each replication had sixteen treatments. The treatment consisted of factorial combination of two okra varieties (Local okra and Clemson spineless), two manure sources (cow dung and sheep and goat manure) at four levels each (0t ha-1, 5t ha-1, 10t ha-1 and 15t ha-1) laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Land was cleared and harrowed to a fine tilth using disc harrow and rake was used to make ridges. About 3-4 seeds were sown per hole and were later thinned to 1 plant per hill at a spacing of 75cm x 30cm. NPK 15:15:15 at the rate of 200kg ha-1was applied as basal. Data were collected on plant height, number of leaves, number of fruits, fresh fruit weight and fruit yield per hectare. The collected data were subjected to analysis of variance as described by Snedecor and Cochran (1967), and the treatment means that were found to be significant were compared using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) (Steel and Torrie, 1981).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The chemical and physical properties of the soil taken from the experimental site at 0-15cm depth (Table 1) showed that the soil was sandy loam thus has good drainage characteristics and can aid aeration and root penetration. The soil was slightly acidic. The N content was very low. Exchangeable bases were all very low while Na was medium. Nitrogen and phosphorus were respectively high and very high in sheep and goat and cow dung manure. Potassium was low in cow dung but moderate in sheep and goat manure.

Plant height and number of leaves

Plant height and number of leaves did not seem to be affected by okra variety and source of organic manure. However, manure rate significantly (p<0.05) affected plant height at 6 and 8 WAS with tallest plant obtained when 10t ha-1 of organic manure was added (Table 2). There were significant (p<0.05) interactions between manure source and manure rate on the number of leaves at 6 and 10 WAS as there was among variety, manure source and rate at 12 WAS. At 6 WAS, the highest number of leaves was obtained when 15t ha-1 of cow dung was applied with lowest leaves from where no cow dung was applied at all (Table 3) as just was the case at 10 WAS when 10t ha-1 of cow dung was added (Table 4). At 10 WAS, Clemson Spineless that was treated with 10t ha-1 of cow dung produced the highest number of leaves with the lowest number of leaves from same variety that was treated with 10t ha-1 of sheep and goat manure. The findings also revealed increased in growth of okra generally with increase in age of the crop. This agrees with the work of Okonmah (2011) and Sajjanet al. (2002) who reported that growth/yield parameters such as plant height, leaf area and pod production were enhanced by genetic factors. This study also shows that okra growth was better when 10t ha-1 of organic manure was added. This is in line with the work of Okonmah (2011) who found that application of 12t ha-1 of poultry manure was over optimal for okra growth and development. Phosphorus level was very high (43.6 mg kg-1) in the cow dung applied, and is a known fact that recovery of P from organic manure is slightly better than from fertilizers as CO2 released by decomposition improves availability from soil (Gopalakrishnan, 2007). The better efficiency of organic manures might be due to the fact that organic manures especially FYM would have provided the micronutrients such as Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Mg in an optimum level (Premsekhar and Rajashree, 2009).

Yield and yield components

The result showed there was significant interaction (p<0.05) between variety and source in the number of fruits produced at 9WAS with the Clemson Spineless that was treated with cow dung producing the highest number of fruits (Table 7).Akinfosoyeet al. (1997) reported that differential in yields of crops could be attributed to the choice of cultivar grown and its specific genetic make-up. Similarly, Adetiloye and Salau (2002) who work on Soybean found that variation among Soybean varieties is due to differences in their genetic make-up; and that Ojeniyi and Olamila (2006) obtained highest number of pods with the application of 10t ha-1of pig manure. There was also significant interaction (p<0.05) between manure source and manure rate on the number of fruits produced at 9WAS with the highest number of fruits obtained when 10t ha-1of cow dung was applied (Table 8). At 12WAS, there was significant interaction between variety and manure rate on the number of fruits produced with Clemson Spineless that was treated with 10t ha-1of organic manure produced the highest number of fruits per plant (Table 9) with least fruits from both varieties that received no manure at all. At final harvest (12WAS), okra fruit weight was significantly (p<0.05) affected by manure rate with heaviest weight recorded when 10t ha-1 of organic manure was added. Though there was no significant difference in yield (at least 3t ha-1 each) between okra varieties, sources and rates of manure, the result showed that the mean yields were highest with Clemson Spineless, cow dung application and the rate of 10t ha-1.

Conclusion

From the findings of this work it can be concluded that okra (even farmers’ local variety) can do better with the application of 10t ha-1 of cow dung manure and thus suggested this rate for the cultivation of okra in the study area and related ecologies.

Table 1: Pre-planting status of the soil and organic manure used

Soil properties Organic manure
a) particle size distribution / % / Sheep and goat / Cow dung
Sand / 70
Silt / 16
Clay / 14
Textural class / Sandy loam
b) chemical properties
PH / 6.5
OC (g kg-1 ) / 0.8
OM (g kg-1 ) / 1.4
Total N (g kg-1 ) / 0.35 / 0.70 / 0.35
Available P (mg kg-1 ) / 11.95 / 21.10 / 43.6
Available S / 0.5
Exchangeable bases (cMol kg-1)
Ca / 0.07
Mg / 0.03
K / 0.12 / 0.31 / 0.23
Na / 0.27

Table 2: Effect of variety, source and rate of organic manure on plant height and number of leaves of okra

Treatment / Plant height (cm) / Number of leaves
6WAS / 8WAS / 10WAS / 6WAS / 8WAS / 10WAS
Variety
Clemson spineless / 31.7 / 48.1 / 70.6 / 10.9 / 26.7 / 23.9
Local okra / 34.8 / 50.7 / 70.6 / 11.6 / 25.5 / 22.6
SE± / 1.82 / 2.94 / 5.33 / 0.57 / 1.57 / 7.42
Source
Sheep and goat / 35.8 / 50.0 / 64.9 / 10.9 / 24.5 / 21.5
Cow dung / 30.7 / 48.8 / 76.3 / 11.6 / 27.7 / 26.0
SE± / 1.82 / 2.94 / 5.33 / 0.57 / 1.57 / 7.42
Manure rate (t ha-1)
0 / 27.5b / 50.2 / 72.1 / 9.8 / 21.9b / 24.4
5 / 34.0ab / 45.3 / 70.3 / 11.7 / 27.4ab / 23.3
10 / 37.0ab / 53.0 / 71.1 / 12.3 / 29.2a / 24.7
15 / 34.4ab / 49.1 / 68.8 / 11.4 / 25.0ab / 22.6
SE± / 2.55 / 4.12 / 7.47 / 0.79 / 2.19 / 10.39
V X S / NS / NS / NS / NS / NS / NS
V X R / NS / NS / NS / NS / NS / NS
S X R / NS / NS / NS / * / NS / *
V X S X R / NS / NS / NS / NS / NS / *

Means followed by the same letter(s) in the same column indicate that they are statistically similar at 5% level, * significant, NS=Not significant, V = Variety, S = Source, R = Rate.

Table 3: Interaction between manure source and manure rate on the number of leaves of okra at 6WAS

Manure rate (t ha-1)
0 / 5 / 10 / 15
Manure source
Sheep and goat / 11.0abc / 11.5abc / 12.4ab / 8.8bc
Cow dung / 8.6bc / 11.9abc / 12.1abc / 13.9a
SE± / 1.13