ABSTRACT
The research, effect of cocoa pod ash rates on the growth and yield of Okra in Umudike, Southeastern Nigeria, was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike during 2017 cropping season. It was a 2 x 5 factorial experiment arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Growth parameters measured were: number of leaves/plant, Plant height and stem girth, while yield parameters were number of fresh pods/plant, length of fresh pods/plant, weight of fresh pods/plant and fresh pod yield. Growth parameters were measured at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after planting (WAP), while the yield were measured at maturity. The result revealed that all growth and yield parameters were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the cocoa pod ash rates, apart from the length of the fresh pods/plant. 8t/ha of cocoa pod ash produced highest parameters, while the spineless dwarf variety equally produced highest parameters apart plant height, where spineless tall produced taller plants compared with the spineless dwarf. Consequently, 8t/ha of the cocoa pod ash as well as spineless dwarf variety are hereby recommended for cultivation in Umudike, southeastern, Nigeria.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Declaration ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgements v
Table of Contents vi
List
of Tables viii
Abstract ix
CHAPTER
1: INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background
of the Study 1
1.2 Objectives
of the Study 4
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 5
2.1 Effect
of Cocoa Pod Ash on the Growth and Yield of Okra 5
2.2 Varieties
of Okra 6
CHAPTER
3: MATERIALS AND METHODS 7
3.1 Research
Location Information 7
3.2 Soil
Location Information 7
3.3 Meteorological
Information 7
3.4 Cocoa
Pod Ash Analysis 7
3.5 Planting
Material 8
3.6 Experimental
Design 8
3.7 Agronomic
Practices 8
3.8 Data
Collection 8
3.9 Statistical
Analysis 9
CHAPTER
4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 10
4.2 Discussion 23
4.2.1: Soil physico-chemical properties of the
experiment site 23
4.2.2 Some properties of cocoa pod ash organic
fertilizer analysis 23
4.2.3 Plant height (cm) 23
4.2.4 Number of leaves/plant 24
4.2.5 Stem girth (mm) 24
4.2.6 Number of fresh pods/plant 25
4.2.7 Length of fresh pods/plant 25
4.2.8 Weight of fresh pods/plant 26
4.2.9 Fresh pod yield 26
CHAPTER
5: CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATIONS 28
5.1 Conclusion 28
5.2 Recommendation 28
References
LIST OF TABLES
4.1: Agro-meteorological
data of the experimental site during 2017 cropping season 10
4.2: Soil
physico-chemical properties of the experimental site 11
4.3: Some
properties of cocoa pod ash analysis 12
4.4: Effect
of cocoa pod ash rates on plants height of two improved okra
Varieties
at 4, 8 and 12 WAP during 2017 cropping. 14
4.5: Effect
of cocoa pod ash rate on number of leaves /plant of two improved okra
varieties
at 4, 8 and 12 WAP during 2017 cropping seasons. 16
4.6: Effects
of cocoa pod ash rates on stem girth of two improved okra
Varieties
at 4,8 and 12 WAP during 2017 cropping seasons. 18
4.7: Effects
of cocoa pod ash rates on number of fresh pod/plant of two
improved
okra varieties during 2017 cropping season. 19
4.8: Effects
of cocoa pod ash rates on length of fresh pods/plant of two
improved
okra varieties during 2017 cropping season. 20
4.9: Effects
of cocoa pod ash rates on weight of fresh pods/plant of two
improved okra varieties during 2017 cropping season. 21
4.10: Effect
of cocoa pod ash rate on fresh pod yield of two
improved okra varieties during 2017
cropping season 22
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) is
most widely known and utilized species of the family Malvaceae (Naveed et al.,
2009). It is an economically important vegetable crop grown in tropical and
sub-tropical parts of the world (Oyelade et
al., 2003; Aladras et al., 2005;
Saifullah and Ribanni; 2009). Okra is thought to be of Asian origin and it’s
reported to have been used by the Egyptians in the twelfth century. Production
has nearly doubled since 1939, when particularly all the commercial production
for market and processing begin in the southern state. (Raji 2007). However,
Aguisiobo (1987), also confirmed Asia as the origin because, the wild variety
originated in the Southern and South-Eastern region of Asia. It went throughout
the North America and Spain to the new world by some French colonies. Aladras et al. (2005), also reported that Okra
originated from Asia and Africa and it is an important vegetable grown in some
tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world.
Hence Okra production is
common on less than 0.4 to 1.6ha and grown in intercrops with maize, yam,
cassava, pepper, pineapple, maize and yam, yam and pepper, cassava and pepper,
cassava and beans, beans and maize amongst other combinations depending on
locality (Bamire and Oke, 2003; Iken and Amusa, 2004 and Raji, 2007).
Soil
and environmental requirements
It grows in almost all types of soils but
performs best in moist, friable, well-drained loamy soil of pH 6.0 – 6.8. Okra
requires a temperature of 28 oC – 30 oC, rainfall of 1000mm
– 1500mm per annum (Aladras et al 2005).
Maximum yield of Okra is expected under good management practices by weeding,
manure application, insect pest control with suitable climatic condition of
rainfall, optimum temperature, required altitude and wind.
Botany
of okra
Okra is mainly propagated
by seeds and has duration of 90 – 100days. It is generally an annual plant. It
stem is robust, erect variable in branching and varying from 0.5 to 4.0 meters
in height. Leaves are alternate and usually palmately five lobed, whereas the
flower is auxillary solitary (Nath, 1976). The species is a perennial, often
cultivated as an annual in temperate climatic and often grows to around 2
meters (6.6ft) tall. The leaves are 4 – 8 centimeter in diameter, with five
white to yellow petals, often with a red or purple spot as the base of each
petal. The fruit is a capsule up to 18 centimeter long with pentagonal
cross-section, containing numerous seeds (Martin and Frankline, 1982). The
fruit is capsule and grows quickly after flowering with the greatest increase in fruit length, height and diameter
occurring during 4th to 6th day after pollination. It is
at this stage that fruit is most often plucked for consumption.
Okra plant continues to
flower and to fruit for indefinite time, depending upon the variety, season and
soil moisture and fertility. In fact the regular harvesting stimulates
continued fruiting, so much that it may necessary to harvest every day in
climate where growth is especially vigorous. (Nath, 1976).
Economic
importance and uses
Okra is a fruit vegetable
of national importance and is produced and consumed at all ecological zone of
Nigeria (Dinakin et al., 1990). Much
of economic importance of the okra is based on the drawing or mucilaginous
properties of the fruit which aids easy consumption of some bulky staple foods
(Martin and Telek, 1979). The stems
and mature pods of okra yield fibre used in paper making and tender fruits are
used as vegetable dried, sliced or ground and used for thickening soup and
stew, or it can be boiled or fried. (Owonubi and Yayock, 1981). In developed
countries of the world like the United States of America (USA), large
quantities of pods of fruits are frozen, canned alone or mixed with other
vegetables for future use. The fruit are also used as medicines for treatment
of peptic ulcer, while the minerals contained therein are very important in
neutralizing acidic substances, aiding digestion of metals and other food
substances( Owunubi and Yayock, 1981).
The seed of okra contains about 20% edible oil
(NIHORT, 1987). Saijan (2002), identified okra as a very important vegetable
food item in human nutrition, in supplying minerals, vitamins, certain types of
hormones precursor in addition to protein and energy. The fresh fruit of okra
has an ascorbic acid content of 203mg/g and high levels of calcium, iron,
fibres and ash. The green pods are rich sources of vitamins, calcium, potassium
and other minerals (Lee et al.,
2000). Aladras et al. (2005), opined
that okra is useful in the relief of haemorrhoid due to its mucilaginous
character which may also account for it use as a clarifying agent in sugar
processing. The ripe seeds also possess good food values of 25 percent protein
and 20 percent of oil which is comparable to cotton seed used for feeding
cattle. Therefore, okra can serve as suitable replacement for cotton seed in
animal feed. It is popularly grown by farmers both for home use and source of
income.
1.2
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1.
To determine the effects of cocoa pod ash
on the growth and yield of okra
2.
To determine the appropriate cocoa pod ash
rate for the optimum growth and yield of okra.
Buyers has the right to create
dispute within seven (7) days of purchase for 100% refund request when
you experience issue with the file received.
Dispute can only be created when
you receive a corrupt file, a wrong file or irregularities in the table of
contents and content of the file you received.
ProjectShelve.com shall either
provide the appropriate file within 48hrs or
send refund excluding your bank transaction charges. Term and
Conditions are applied.
Buyers are expected to confirm
that the material you are paying for is available on our website
ProjectShelve.com and you have selected the right material, you have also gone
through the preliminary pages and it interests you before payment. DO NOT MAKE
BANK PAYMENT IF YOUR TOPIC IS NOT ON THE WEBSITE.
In case of payment for a
material not available on ProjectShelve.com, the management of
ProjectShelve.com has the right to keep your money until you send a topic that
is available on our website within 48 hours.
You cannot change topic after
receiving material of the topic you ordered and paid for.
Login To Comment