EFFECT OF COMPOST AS SOIL AMENDMENT ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF OKRA

ABSTRACT

Organic nutrient sources such as compost could be used to improve the

low fertility of tropical soils as it has the potential to enhance soil physical,

chemical and biological properties and improve growth, yield and quality of

crops. Pot and field experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of

compost on growth, yield and nutritional quality of okra, Abelmoschus

esculentus (L.) Moench. The pot experiment was done using the Completely

Randomized design while field trial was done in Split-Plot Design (SPD). In all

the pot and field experiments, compost was incorporated at rates of 0 kg N ha-1

(control), 100 kg N ha-1 and 200 kg N ha-1 with three replicates. Asontem and

Enidaso okra varieties were used as test crops.

Results from the study indicated that the addition of compost at 100 kg

N ha-1 in the pot experiment showed significantly greater plant height, number

of leaves, leaf area, dry matter content and nutrient content in stem, leaf,

petiole and root of harvested okra plants. The results for field work showed that

the Enidaso variety responded better to compost application in that this variety

recorded the highest plant height, had less incidence of okra mosaic disease

and had higher dry matter. Using the Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT),

no significant difference was found between compost application rates of 100

kg N ha-1 and 200 kg N ha-1 in terms of soil organic carbon, soil total nitrogen,

available phosphorus, pH, ECEC, moisture content, exchangeable Ca2+ and

Mg2+ contents. Proximate analysis for moisture and protein contents as well as

nutrients (magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and sodium) composition of

edible pods of okra was also not significant. For economic reasons, an

application rate of 100 kg N ha-1 was recommended.