Effect of water stress on growth and yield of okra (Abemoscus essculentus) under irrigation

Abstract

The growth and yield responses of okra (Abemoscus esculentus) to water stress under three regimes of 100%, 80% and 60% field capacity were examined during field irrigation at Oke-Oyi Ilorin (Nigeria). A Latin Square Design was used for the test plot of 100 mP2P, which was subdivided into nine equal subplots of 9 mP2P each. The water requirements of okra plant were determined from field capacity and permanent wilting point of the soil. Diurnal evapotranspiration was estimated by the Penman-Monteith equation. Irrigation was applied at an interv-al of five days, and the analysis of variance at a level of significance of 5 % indicated significant differences in yield with level of irrigation, which was not the case with growth. Increased vegetative growth occurred at all levels of irrigation, while the yield followed in the order 80 % > 60 % > 100 % of applied irrigation regimes of 100 %, 80 % and 60 % field capacity. The low yield of 100 % irrigation regime could be associated with the tendency to supply water above the moisture content at field capacity. The results of the study could be useful in designing an effective irrigation system for okra production.