Influence of Sole and Combined Application of NPK (15:15:15) Fertilizer and Poultry Manure on Growth and Yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) Varieties in Aliero, Kebbi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Field trials were conducted at the University Orchard Aliero, Kebbi state University of Science and Technology Aliero, during the 2017 and 2018 dry seasons, to study the  growth and yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) varieties influenced by sole and combined application of NPK (15:15:15) and Poultry manure. The treatments consisted of a factorial combination of three Okra varieties: LD88, NHAE47-4 and Dogo; and three level of nutrients: 800 kg NPK (15:15:15) ha-1, 100%PM ha-1 equivalent to 6.6 t ha-1 and 50% NPK+50% PM ha-1 (400 kg of NPK [15:15:15] + 3.3 t of PM ha-1) and the untreated control, each designed to supply the recommended dose of 120 kg N ha-1 using a compound fertilizer NPK (15:15:15) and poultry manure and cow dung. Results revealed that plant height, number of leaves, number of pods per plant, mean pod weight (g), mean pod length (cm), fruit yield per hectare were significantly increased when the recommended N dose of 120 kg N ha-1 was applied using only NPK (800 kg NPK [15:15:15 ha-1]) or a combination of NPK+PM at 50:50 ratio in conjunction with variety NHAE47-4. Based on the results of this study, it could be concluded that the integration of organic and inorganic fertilizers in form of NPK fertilizer and poultry manure at 50:50 ratio in conjunction with variety NHAE47-4, could be adopted for higher pod yield.