EFFECTS OF FERTILIZER TYPE ON THE PERFORMANCЕ OF OKRA (ABELMOCHUS ESCULENTUS) AND PLOT WEED SITUATION

The use of inorganic fertilizer is constrained by acidity, scarcity, nutrient imbalance just as it is no longer within the reach of poor-resource farmers due to its high cost. The need to use large quantities of organic manure which are difficult to handle makes use equally problematic. This study evaluated the growth and yield performances of okra using inorganic (NPK, Urea and zero fertilizer) fertilizer with a view to identifying most effective to boost okra production. The Experiment conducted behind the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, LAUTECH, was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The treatments were 5g each of NPK 15:15:15 and Urea per stand and control treatment to which nothing was applied. Data were collected on plant height, number of leaves, number of days to flowering, leaf area, length of fruit, fruit weight and weed population. These were subjected to analysis of variance and means were compared with Duncan multiple range test at 5% probability level. The fertilizer treatments had no significant effect (p = 0.05) on the plant height and number of leaves of okra plant at 4 and 6 weeks after planting (WAP). NPK produced the highest plant height at 4 WAP (10.00 cm) and Urea produced the highest plant height at 6 WAP (12.33 cm) while the lowest value occurred on the Urea (8.58 cm) at 4 WAP and NPK (11,58 cm) at 6 WAP. NPK produced the highest fruit weight (17.79 ) while control plants produced the lowest fruit weight (9.5 g). These values were however not significantly different from one another. In conclusion, this study showed that there's no influence of fertilizer on our production. It only require regular weeding and prevention from pest and diseases.