Evaluation of cacao pod husk residue ash and animal dungs on the yield, leaf nutrient composition of Okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculenta</i>) and soil chemical properties

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted at Efon - Alaaye, Ekiti state, in the rain forest zone of southwest, Nigeria in 2009/2010 cropping season to determine the effects of animal dung and cocoa pod husk residue ash on Okra yield, leaf nutrients composition and soil chemical properties. The treatments consisted of milled cocoa pod husk (CPH), cocoa pod husk ash (CPHA), oil- palm bunch ash (OPBA), poultry droppings (PD), cow dung (CD) applied at a rate of 5tons/ha and NPK (20:10:10) fertilizer at 200kg/ha. Control without any amendment
was included for comparison. Data on number of leaves, plant height and stem girth were collected at seven weeks after treatments application. Pods were harvested starting from the 52^nd day after sowing at four days intervals and monitored for 72 days after sowing. The fertilizers materials irrespective of sources and rates of application positively improved the growth parameters of okra plant. The effects of poultry droppings was comparable to NPK (20:10:10) on height, number of leaves and pod weight per unit area (12m² ). Similarly, application of fertilizer materials significantly (p < 0.05) improved the chemical properties of soil and leaf nutrient compositions relative to the control.

Key words: cocoa pod husk, evaluate, nutrients, okra yield, parameters, residue ash.