Growth, Yield and Disease Response of Two Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) Varieties to Poultry Manure Rates in Adazi-Nnukwu, Southeast Nigeria
Keywords:
Okra, poultry manure, yield, disease incidence, disease severityAbstract
A field experiment was conducted in Adazi-Nnukwu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State from July to October, 2019. The research aimed at determining the effects of poultry manure rates and variety on growth, yield, fungal disease incidence and severity of two okra varieties in Adazi-Nnukwu. Three poultry manure rates of 4 t/ha, 8t/ha, and 12 t/ha were applied to two varieties of okra – Clemson spineless, and Otukwuru-Omia in a 2 x 3 factorial experiment laid out in randomized complete block design and replicated three times. The result showed significant effects of poultry manure rates on growth parameters. Tallest okra plants (65.69 cm) was obtained in Clemson spineless fertilized with 12 t/ha of poultry manure, while broadest leaf (415.00 cm), and highest number of leaves (12.59) were obtained in the local variety fertilized with 12 t/ha of poultry manure, at eight weeks after planting. Poultry manure rates and variety had significant (P ≤ 0.05) effect on weight of fruits, fruit lengths, number of fruits per plant and yield per plot. Highest number of fruits (3.96) and highest fruit length (7.50 cm) were obtained in Clemson spineless. Highest fruit weight (14.34g) and highest yield (1.414 t/ha) were obtained in local variety fertilized with, 12 t/ha of poultry manure. There was no significant effects on disease incidence and severity. However, highest disease incidence (55.6%) was obtained in both Clemson spineless and local variety fertilized with 12 t/ha of poultry manure. Also, disease severity was highest (4.00) in Clemson spineless fertilized with 12 t/ha of poultry manure. The fungi isolated from the infected Okra leaves and fruits were Botrydiplodia spp and Rhizopus spp. Based on the findings of this investigation, it was recommended that farmers in the study area should cultivate the local variety (Otukwuru-Omia) in soil amended with 12 t/ha of poultry manure.
