Abstract
A field study was conducted at the Research Farm of National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Service (NAERLS/ABU), Badeggi zone in Niger State in the 2020 and 2021 cropping seasons, respectively, to evaluate the effect of pruning on the growth, fruit yield, nutritional quality and nutrient uptake of okra. The experiment had six treatment combinations: two okra varieties (Blondy and Zaria Local) and three pruning rates (0, 1 stem, two stems) replicated three times. The experiment was fitted into a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Data were collected on several leaves per plant, green fruit yield, nutritional quality, and nutrient uptake. Data collected were subjected to ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) using Genstat Discovery Statistical Package. The effective treatment means were separated using Fisher's least significant test (LSD) at a 5% probability level. Pruning is beneficial to the performance of okra. Plants with two-stem pruning produced the highest fruit yield (12.80 t/ha) in 2021, while the control plots had the least values (1.60 t/ha in 2020 and 2021, respectively). Therefore, it could be concluded that two-stem pruning can increase fruit yield, nutritional quality, and nutrient uptake of okra. Blondy performed better than the Zaria local variety and could be recommended for farmers within the study area. Keywords : Blondy okra variety, Fisher’s least significant test, Randomized Complete Block, Design, two-stem pruning, Zaria okra variety
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