Abstract
Aim This study investigated the effects of combined organic poultry manure (PM) and inorganic foliar fertilizer (FF) on growth and yield of okra (Abelmuschus esculenthus L. Moench).Materials and methodsField trials were carried out at Shao and Teaching and Research Farm of Kwara State University, Malete, respectively, in 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons. The treatment consisted of PM at 10.0 t/ha, combinations of FF with 10.0, 7.5, 5.0, or 2.5 t/ha, FF alone and control without fertilizer arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times.ResultsCombinations of PM and FF influenced the growth and fruit yield of okra. PM at 10.0 t/ha plus FF produced the highest plant height of 48.40 and 58.50 cm in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Also, highest number of fruits per plant and fruit yield was obtained at the same treatment over the two years. The control, without fertilizer, showed significantly longer days to flower compared with other treatments in the two years.ConclusionThe highest yield obtained at PM 10.0 t/ha +FF was not significantly different from PM 7.5 t/ha +FF. Hence, poultry manure applied at 7.5 t/ha +FF is therefore recommended.
Highlights
Sustainable soil productivity is one of the major constraints of tropical agriculture
Aim This study investigated the effects of combined organic poultry manure (PM) and inorganic foliar fertilizer (FF) on growth and yield of okra
Okra fruit yield and yield components were significantly affected by different treatments (Table 4)
Summary
Sustainable soil productivity is one of the major constraints of tropical agriculture. Continuous cultivation is a common practice by poor resource farmers in the tropics. This has resulted in rapid decline of soil nutrients and unstable soil microbial population (ECA 2001). Fertilizer plays a major role among cultural practices for increased crop production. Blanket application of inorganic fertilizer to farmland soils without adequate knowledge of the nutrient status, often leads to increased soil acidity, when nitrogen fertilizers are applied (Akande et al 2010). Inorganic fertilizers, contain high concentrations of nutrients that are rapidly available and released for plant uptake, their use is limited due to scarcity, high cost, nutrient imbalance, and soil acidity (Akande et al 2010)
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