Growth, yield and nutritional values of okra varieties grown organically at Ogbomoso, Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Research farm, Ogbomoso Nigeria in the cropping seasons of 2009 and 2010 to determine the effect of organic nitrogen fertilizer on the growth, fruit yield, quality and chemical contents of okra varieties. Four okra varieties . There were three replicates fitted into factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design. Data collected on the growth parameters, yield and quality attributes were analyzed using Analysis of Variance. The plant height and number of leaves of okra varieties increased with the increasing rates of applied organic N fertilizer, the highest values were obtained at maximum rate of 60 kg N ha . There was
significant effect on the plant height and number of leaves of okra among the okra varieties. The yield and yield components investigated increased as the organic N rate increases from 0 to 45 kg. N ha significantly NH47-4 Ogbomoso local had the highest fruit yield, while LD88 had the least value. Although, all the okra varieties are very rich in protein, carbohydrate and other nutrient elements, NH47-4 had the highest nutritional contents. There were significant varietals differences on both fruit yield and quality attributes of okra. The combined nitrogen and varietals differences were significant for the grain yield in both years.