INFLUENCE OF FRUIT WASTES AND RATES ON OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) GROWTH AND FRUIT YIELD IN OGBOMOSO AND OYO TOWN, OYO STATE.

Abstract

The influence of fruit wastes and rates on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus l.) growth and fruit yield were investigated in two locations, at Teaching and research farms, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso and Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo. The experiments involved three fruit waste types namely: plantain waste, orange waste and cocoa pod and five rates of application (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 kg N/ha). The 2 x 3 x5 factorial experiment was fitted into
Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. The fruit wastes were sorted, air-dried, milled and analyzed for N.P.K. compositions before application to the experimental plots two weeks before sowing. Data were collected on growth and yield components and subjected to the analysis of variance and the means were separated using least significant difference (LSD) at 5% probability level. The result revealed that location, fruit waste type and rate had significant (P≤0.05) effects on the growth and yield of okra. At Ogbomoso, highest values for growth parameters were recorded while Oyo location gave the best result for yield and yield components. Application of plantain waste gave the highest number of leaves (21.06), stem girth (1.22cm), leaf area (128.30cm2), fruit length (6.73cm), fruit weight (100.00g) and total yield (3.96 ton/ha) while orange waste recorded least values for the parameters mentioned.At 100kgN/ha, highest values for number of leaves (23.66), leaf area (154.20cm2), stem girth (1.42cm), fruit weight (131.01g/ 1.44m2) and total yield (5.14 ton/ha) were recorded while control recorded the least values. Therefore, it can be concluded that Plantain waste and 100kgN/ha rate gave the highest performance of okra planted in Oyo. Therefore, these could be recommended for optimum growth and yield of okra in Guinea Savannah of South Western Nigeria.