The Effect of Pig Manure on the Growth and Yield of Okra (abelmoschus Esculentus L.)

The field experiment was carried out during the 2024 cropping season at the Teaching and Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Food Science Emaudo Annex, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of pig manure on the growth and yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.). The okra seeds (Kijani F1) was gotten from International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan. The pig manure was gotten from Livestock Unit of the Teaching and Research Farm, Emaudo Campus Annex, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. The experiment was randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four (4) replicate and five (5) treatments were 0kg/ha, 100kg/ha, 200kg/ha, 300kg/ha and 400kg/ha of pig manure. The results showed that the experimental site of the study had low soil organic matter, available P, Total N, exchangeable K and Na, Moderate Ca and Mg. Plots treated with 400kg/ha of pig manure had the highest Number of Leaves/plant but did not differ significantly from other treatments at all the times they were sampled. plant height at 4 WAP was highest at 100 kg/ha (5.35cm) while at 6 and 8WAP, Pig dung at 400 kg/ha had the highest value and at 10 WAP, Pig dung at 300 kg/ha had the highest value (54.53cm). Leaf area/plant at 4WAP was highest at 300 kg/ha and at 6, 8 and 10WAP, 400 kg/ha of manure produced the tallest plants. For stem girth and Number of branches/plant there was no statistical difference all the times it was sampled. Number of Internode/plant was only significant at 4 WAP and not other weeks. Days to fifty percent (50%) flowering and podding were not also significantly different. Weight of pods/plants were not significant but weight of pods/plots were significantly different. As for the weight of pods per plant application of 200 kg/ha had the highest weight. The weight of pod/plot significantly affected the level of manure applied. The application of 200 kg/ha also recorded the highest weight per plot. From this study, pig manure significantly increased the growth and yield of okra.