Agroclimatological Indices and Performance of Okra in Mixtures with Sorghum and Maize in Forest-Savanna Transition Zone of Nigeria.

Abstract

Agroclimatological indices and performance of okra in mixtures with sorghum and maize in a Forest-Savanna transition zone of Nigeria was investigated at the Experimental Research Farmland of the National Horticultural Research Institutes (NIHORT), Ibadan during the 2009 and 2010 cropping seasons. Plants phenological stages formed the basic unit of time for the investigation. During these phenological stages, agroclimatological thermal and moisture indices were measured daily and processed into ten-day (decadal) averages likewise selected agronomic growth and yield parameters of the components crops were taken fortnightly. The results showed that the 2010 season crops had relatively longer growth duration, received more rainfall than 2009 season (692mm vs 487.2mm) while 2009 experienced warmer temperature during establishment and early vegetative stage than 2010 season (33.2°C vs 32°C), and (28.5°C vs 27 °C) during the reproductive phase for 2009 and 2010 season respectively. The
mean pod yields of okra in both seasons were dependent on crop combination since pod yield in sorghum cultivars mixtures (Farin Dawa and Janare) (97.33 and 93.67 pods) was significantly higher than in maize mixtures (58.33 and 49.65 pods) in 2009 season likewise in 2010 season when okra pods in sorghum mixtures (Farin Dawa and Janare) had (309.67 and 232.33 pods) against (162.67 and 67 pods) in maize mixtures for the two sorghum cultivars. Result of correlation analysis showed that growing period rainfall contributes more to plant height and leaf area of the components crops than mean temperature.

Key words: Phenological stages, agroclimatological indices, okra, sorghum, maize