Determination of Crop Growth Specific Coefficients and Water Requirement of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) under Greenhouse Conditions in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine crop growth specific coefficients for Daily Consumptive Use (CU) and growth stage-specific crop coefficients (K_c) and water requirement of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) under greenhouse conditions using soil samples from Ibadan, Nigeria, using standard techniques. The Kc values determined over the growing season of Okra were 0.9, 0.85, and 0.7 respectively representing Kc initial, Kc mid-season, and Kc late season, respectively. The observed Kc was validated using relevant statistical methods. The consumptive use (CU) of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) was 380.35 mm, while the reference evapotranspiration increased from July to September from 6.32 to 6.72mm/day. The crop factor per month was highest in July, 1.78 and decreased to 1.17 in August, and was the lowest in September, 0.83. It is inferred that the application of growth stage-specific Kc will assist in irrigation management and would serve as a useful guide for precise water applications in greenhouses around the humid tropics.