Europäisches Journal für Experimentalbiologie Offener Zugang

Abstrakt

Effect of cow dung and variety on the growth and yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.)

Gudugi I.A.S.

A trial to investigate the effect of cow dung and inorganic fertilizer on the growth and yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) was conducted in the Teaching and Research Farm of Ibrahim Badamsi Babangida University during the 2011 and 2012 cropping seasons. The trial was a factorial experiment consisting of two varieties of Okra (NHe47-4 and LD88-1) and four levels of cow dung (0, 5 10 and 15 tha-1). The inorganic fertilizer was applied at rate of 200kg ha-1. The experiment was fitted into randomized complete block design (RCBD). Cow dung applied at 20 t ha-1 and inorganic fertilizer significantly produced taller plants, more leaves and more fruits. Non application of fertilizer significantly delayed flowering. In 2011, cow dung at 20 t ha-1 and inorganic fertilizer statistically gave similar fruit weight which was significantly higher than other treatments. The highest fruit weight in 2012 was obtained with cow dung at 20 t ha-1. The varietal difference was not significant in most of the parameters measured