Iyagba, A.G., Onuegbu, B.A. and Ibe, A.E.
Field studies were carried out at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria to determine the response of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.)Moench) to NPK fertilizer rates at different weeding regimes. Okra seeds variety, NHAe47-4 were treated to four levels of NPK fertilizer rates (0,100,200 and 300 kgha-1) and five weeding regimes (weedy check, unweeded till 5 weeks after sowing (WAS), weeding once each at 3 WAS and 4 WAS and weed free). The treatment combinations were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Plant height and leaf area were in the increasing order of 0>100>200>300 kgha-1. More flowers/plant were obtained by applying 300kgha-1 of NPK while the least number of flowers/plant aborted was obtained with the application of 200 and 300 kgha-1 in both years. Among the weeded plots, okra plots applied with 300kgha-1 of NPK fertilizer produced the highest fruit yield (26.50t ha-1 in 2007 and 24.34t ha-1 in 2008) which were not significantly different with the application of 200kgha-1 of NPK fertilizer in both years. Interaction effect between NPK rates and weeding regime was significant (P=5%). Better weed control was achieved by applying 300kgha-1 of NPK fertilizer, 85.15 and 84.95% in 2007 and 2008 respectively comparable with those applied with 200kg ha-1 of NPK fertilizer and the weed free plots. This
Share this article