Agronomic Evaluation of Okra under Different Irrigation and Soil Management Practices at Isampou, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

S. E. Embiowei, U. N. Emiri

Abstract: Effect of irrigation and soil amendment practices were tested on okra yields at Isampou, Bayelsa State. The experimental design was split-plot fitted into randomized complete blocks. Irrigation regimes 20, 000, 25, 000 and 30, 000 l ha-1 day occupied the main plots while soil amendments (poultry manure PM 5 t ha-1, NPK 200kg ha-1 and PM 5 t ha-1 + NPK 200 kg ha-1) were assigned sub-plots. These treatments were replicated four times culminating into 12 treatment combinations. Irrigation rates did not seem to have significantly relative effect on growth and yield of okra across the cropping periods. Okra was tallest in plots treated with NPK + OM (91.30cm) irrespective of water level and plantings. NPK + OM incorporated plots recorded consistently higher okra fruit yield than those of other treatments (4.85, 4.89 and 4.57 t ha-1) for the first, second and third cropping period, respectively.

Keywords: Okra, irrigation, organic manure, NPK, yield