Growth and Yield of Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (L.) Moench) as Affected by Weeding Regimes in Mubi, Adamawa State

Abstract

The two-year experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of weeding regimes on the growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) in Mubi Adamawa State, Northern Guinea Savannah, grown at the Tree Crop Plantation (TCP) Farm, School of Agriculture, Federal polytechnic, Mubi, during 2022 and 2023 rain cropping season. Mubi is located in the North-eastern part of Adamawa State laid between Latitude 90 26ʹ and100 10ʹN and Longitude 130 10ʹ and 130 44ʹE. at an Altitude of 696m above sea level. The experiments were laid out in Split Plot Design with four (4) treatments: No weeding (W1), 1 Weeding at 3 weeks after sowing (WAS) (W2), 2 weeding at 3, and 6 WAS (W3) and 3 weeding at 3, 6 and 9 WAS (W4), replicated 3 times. Data were collected on plant height, Number of leaves, stem diameter, days to 50 % flowering, fruit length, fruit diameter, fresh fruit yield per plot, fresh fruit yield per hectare and dried fruit yield per hectare. The data on growth and yield parameters were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Statistical Analysis System (SAS), (SAS, 2000) and means that showed significant differences were separated by F-test using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The results revealed that weeding regimes significantly influenced plant height, number of leaves, and stem diameter, at 3, 6 and 9 WAS. On the response of phonological traits and yield components of okra, to weeding regimes and significant influences were observed in days to 50 % flowering, fruit length, fruit diameter, fresh fruit yield per plot, fresh fruit yield per hectare and dried fruit yield per hectare, accordingly. Treatment W4 performed significantly higher than the other treatments. The study therefore recommends 3 times weeding at an interval of 3 WAS to okra farmers in Mubi and its environs for optimum fruit yield.