Abstract
A field experiment was conducted at the botanical garden of the University of Ilorin to determine the effects of weed density and distance on the growth and yield of two varieties of okra (NHAe-40 days and Kirikoi). The experiment was a complete randomized block design with eleven treatments and three replicates. The treatment details include T0 = No weed, T1 = One weed per plant T2= Two weeds per plant, T3 = Three weeds per plant, T4 = Four weeds per plant, T5 = Five weeds per plant, T6 = Six weeds per plant, T7 = Seven weeds per plant, T8 = Eight weeds per plant, T9 = Nine weeds per plant and T10 = Ten weeds per plant. Data were collected on plant height, number of leaves, stem girth, shoot Fresh and dry weight as well as yield parameters was carried out at the end of the experiment. The result depicts a significant decrease in the vegetative growth and yield parameters with increasing weed density in both varieties. Irrespective of the weed distance, all yield parameters decreased significantly with increasing number of co-habiting weeds except for plant co-habited with one weed at 20 cm and 30 cm weed distance which was significantly the same with the control in both varieties. The result is an indication that absence of weed or early control of weed should be done at the early weeks of growth before the onset of flowering if maximum production is expected.
Highlights
IntroductionMoench) is an economically important vegetable crop grown in tropical and subtropical part of the world including India, Sudan, Parkistan, Ghana, Egypt, Benin Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Cameroon with the largest area in India followed by Nigeria (Saifullah and Rabbani, 2009)
There was a progressive reduction in plant height of okra as the density of weeds increased in the two varieties when compared to the control treatment with the shortest plants obtained in those co-habited with ten weeds irrespective of the distance (Table 1)
The tallest plants obtained in the control and those co-habited with one weed could be attributed to less weed competition with the okra plant for nutrients, light, water and space (Reddy and Whiting, 2000; Odelaye et al, 2007)
Summary
Moench) is an economically important vegetable crop grown in tropical and subtropical part of the world including India, Sudan, Parkistan, Ghana, Egypt, Benin Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Cameroon with the largest area in India followed by Nigeria (Saifullah and Rabbani, 2009). It belongs to the Malvaceae family (Kashif et al, 2008). The present study seeks to examine the effects of E. heterophylla weed distance from the crop of interest as well as the weed density on the growth and yield of two okra varieties (Abelmoschus esculentus)
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