Evaluation of Okra shoot and root systems under stress and non-stress water conditions

Abstract

High okra fruit depends on its ability to strive well in water stressed and non-stressed conditions, hence this study was carried out at the  plant shed of College of Agriculture, Ejigbo, Osun State. Nine kilogram of sandy soil was filled into a total of ninety pots and sown with  okra variety (Clemson spineless „Jokoso‟). The pots were irrigated equally with 180 - 200 ml of water every three days for two weeks,  whence water regimes commenced with Well-watered (WW), Mild- watered (MW) and Low- watered (LW) receiving 180 - 200ml every 5  days, 10 days and 15 days respectively using completely randomized design. Urea 46% N and NPK 15-15-15 were applied at 0.52 mg  plant-1 in three doses. Insect pest was controlled when noticed by spraying 10 ml Cypermethrin in a liter of water. Data were collected on  representative plants for main root length (MRL cm), root girth (RG mm), fresh biomass weight (gm), days to first flowering, days to first  fruiting, pod length (cm) and pod yield (gm) and subjected to Analysis of variance (ANOVA), GLM procedure of SAS (ver. 9.4). Significant  means were compared using Duncan Multiple Range Test. Root girth (0.42 ± 0.03cm), fresh biomass weight (7.18 ± 0.9gm), pod length  (8.00 ± 1.08) and pod yield (8.13 ± 1.14) in WW were significantly higher than LW with 0.34 ± 0.02, 4.48 ± 0.06, 3.30 ± 0.50, 2.45 ± 0.39, respectively. However, LW reduced root: shoot ratio and delayed flower and fruit formations 50.00 ± 0.22 and 58.00 ± 0.39 respectively  compared to MW and WW. Fresh fruit yield was 8.13, 4.17 and 2.45 gm plant^-1 in WW, MW and LW respectively. It was concluded that okra  plants require adequate amount of water to achieve maximum plant growth and avoid yield loss.