Effect of Watering Intervals (water stress) on Growth Performance of Okra Plants in Makurdi Benue State
Liamngee Kator* , Justina Oma Obute , Fayinminu Akintade Ojo
DOI : 10.46890/SL.2020.v02i05004
Abstract
Background and Objective: Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a very popular vegetable in the world due to its acceptability in most markets. The effect of water stress on Okra plants under different water treatment conditions was investigated. Materials and Methods: Horticultural pots were filled with about 6000grams of soil. Two varieties of okra namely raining season and Clemson spineless were sown in the soils and were watered constantly for a period of 14 days after which watering intervals of 3, 5, and 7days were imposed. The experiment was arranged in a 2×4 factorial scheme fitted into a completely randomized design. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance and the Fisher’s least significant difference was used to separate means at 5% level of significance. Results: Significantly higher height for Clemson spineless variety (15.48) compared to raining season variety (12.89). Higher number of leaves, number of shed leaves and days to flowering were recorded for raining season variety (8.60, 0.48 and 16.83) compared to Clemson spineless (8.52, 0.46 and 16.50). Significantly higher height, number of leaves and fewer days to first flowering were recorded for control (16.50, 9.38, and 16.46) compared to 3days (14.47, 9.04 and 16.50), 5days (13.35, 8.67 and 16.75) and 7days (12.44, 7.17 and 16.96) respectively. Higher number of shed leaves were recorded for 7days (0.92) compared to 3days (0.29) 5days (0.46) and control (0.21). Interaction between Clemson spineless variety and control produced significantly higher height (18.22) compared to all other interactions except interaction between Clemson spineless variety and 3 days watering interval (16.02). Number of leaves was significantly higher for interactions between raining season variety and control (9.58) compared to the other interactions. Interaction between raining season variety at 3days watering interval and interaction of Clemson spineless and control each produced significantly lower number of shed leaves (0.25) than the other treatment interactions. Interaction between Clemson spineless and the control produced significantly lower number of days to flowering (16.33) compared to other treatment combinations. Conclusion: Crops watered daily resulted in better growth than those subjected to water stress. Okra plants should be provided with adequate water supply so as to ensure their effective growth and development.
Download this article as: 
Background and Objective: Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a very popular vegetable in the world due to its acceptability in most markets. The effect of water stress on Okra plants under different water treatment conditions was investigated. Materials and Methods: Horticultural pots were filled with about 6000grams of soil. Two varieties of okra namely raining season and Clemson spineless were sown in the soils and were watered constantly for a period of 14 days after which watering intervals of 3, 5, and 7days were imposed. The experiment was arranged in a 2×4 factorial scheme fitted into a completely randomized design. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance and the Fisher’s least significant difference was used to separate means at 5% level of significance. Results: Significantly higher height for Clemson spineless variety (15.48) compared to raining season variety (12.89). Higher number of leaves, number of shed leaves and days to flowering were recorded for raining season variety (8.60, 0.48 and 16.83) compared to Clemson spineless (8.52, 0.46 and 16.50). Significantly higher height, number of leaves and fewer days to first flowering were recorded for control (16.50, 9.38, and 16.46) compared to 3days (14.47, 9.04 and 16.50), 5days (13.35, 8.67 and 16.75) and 7days (12.44, 7.17 and 16.96) respectively. Higher number of shed leaves were recorded for 7days (0.92) compared to 3days (0.29) 5days (0.46) and control (0.21). Interaction between Clemson spineless variety and control produced significantly higher height (18.22) compared to all other interactions except interaction between Clemson spineless variety and 3 days watering interval (16.02). Number of leaves was significantly higher for interactions between raining season variety and control (9.58) compared to the other interactions. Interaction between raining season variety at 3days watering interval and interaction of Clemson spineless and control each produced significantly lower number of shed leaves (0.25) than the other treatment interactions. Interaction between Clemson spineless and the control produced significantly lower number of days to flowering (16.33) compared to other treatment combinations. Conclusion: Crops watered daily resulted in better growth than those subjected to water stress. Okra plants should be provided with adequate water supply so as to ensure their effective growth and development.