Effects of poultry manure and NPK fertilizer on some soil nutrients properties and yield of Okro (Abelmoschus esculentus)

Abstract

Response of some soil nutrients properties and yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) to NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer and poultry manure  were evaluated at the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology Research Farm, Igboora, Nigeria in two cropping season of both  2018 and 2019. The treatments consisted of 120 kg/ha NPK 15-15-15, 10 t/ha Poultry manure (PM), 5 t/ha Poultry manure, 2.5 t/ha PM+ 60  kg NPK 15-15-15 and no fertilizer as control were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Data on  number of pods and yield were collected. The result showed that 2.5 t/ha PM+ 60 kg NPK 15-15-15 gave significantly (p<0.05) higher Okra  pod weight (1.15 and 0.86kg/ha) and yield (92.22 and 94.68kg/ha) in both cropping seasons respectively. Maximum yield of 101.60 kg/ha  was obtained with application of 2.5t/ha PM+ 60kg NPK 15-15-15 in the second cropping season. Sole application of poultry manure and  its combination with NPK significantly increased soil N, P, K, Ca and Mg. It can be concluded that for maximum production, the amount of  poultry manure required can reduce the chemical fertilizer that would be needed for Okra production.