Abstract:
The response of two okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) varieties, ‘White velvet’ and ‘NHAE47-4’, to four nitrogen level 3 (0, 25, 50 and 100 kg N/ha) and three phosphorus levels (0, 13 and 26 kq p/ha) was investigated during the 1981 and 1982 wet seasons. The investigation revealed that both nitrogen and phosphorus enhanced okra fresh pod yield but the two nutrients differed significantly in their effects between the two years. It was also shown that the two varieties of okra differed markedly in thoir growth and potential and yields. The ‘White velvet’ variety, the lower yielder, produced mean fresh pod yield of 4,1 and 4,7 t/ha in 1981 and 1982, respectively. The ‘NHAE47-4’ variety, the higher yielder, gave mean fresh pod yields of 5.3 and 7.6 t/ha in 1981 and 1982, respective1y. The macro-nutrient contents of leaves and fruits were also analysed. Nitrogen content was higher in the leaves than in the fruits but the reverse was true in the case of phosphorus content. Both varieties did not differ significantly in their leaf nitroqen contents but the less fertilizer-responsive variety (‘White velvet’) accumulated more Phospohorus than the more respensive variety (NHAE$) For optimum fresh pod yield in ‘NHAE47-4’ variety, nitroqen application can be increased to about 80 kg/ha and for ‘White velvet’ about 65 kq N/ha level is suggested. It is also suggested that under Samaru conditions where the experiments were conducted, phosphorus fertilisation of about 13 kg p/ha would be beneficial to both varieties of okra.
RESPONSE OF TWO VARIETIES OF OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) TO NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZERS
