Response of okra (Abelmuschus esculenthus L. Moench) to combined organic and inorganic foliar fertilizers

Aim This study investigated the effects of combinedorganic poultry manure (PM) and inorganic foliar fertilizer(FF) on growth and yield of okra (Abelmuschus esculenthusL. Moench).Materials and methods Field trials were carried out atShao and Teaching and Research Farm of Kwara StateUniversity, Malete, respectively, in 2013 and 2014 croppingseasons. The treatment consisted of PM at 10.0 t/ha,combinations of FF with 10.0, 7.5, 5.0, or 2.5 t/ha, FFalone and control without fertilizer arranged in a randomizedcomplete block design and replicated three times.Results Combinations of PM and FF influenced the growthand fruit yield of okra. PM at 10.0 t/ha plus FF producedthe highest plant height of 48.40 and 58.50 cm in 2013 and2014, respectively. Also, highest number of fruits per plantand fruit yield was obtained at the same treatment over thetwo years. The control, without fertilizer, showed significantlylonger days to flower compared with other treatmentsin the two years.Conclusion The highest yield obtained at PM 10.0 t/ha FF was not significantly different from PM 7.5 t/ha FF. Hence, poultry manure applied at 7.5 t/ha FF istherefore recommended.