GROWTH AND YIELD OF OKRA UNDER SPRINKLER IRRIGATION SYSTEM IN OWO, SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA
Mogaji K.O. & Oloruntade A.J.
Department of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering Technology, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State Nigeria
Email: ko.mogaji@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The growth and yield of okra under sprinkler irrigation system was investigated at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria during the 2016/2017 dry season period. The aim of the study was to characterize the effect of sprinkler irrigation on yield and yield components of okra as well as its water use efficiency. Okra seeds were planted and subjected to two regimes of treatment, that is, full irrigation and no/zero irrigation (control). Water was applied to the plants by using over-head tank gravity sprinkler irrigation system. Rainfall was measured using rainguage and soil moisture content was obtained using gravimetric method twice weekly. Height, stem and number of leaves were determined on weekly basis using a – 2 meter rule, Vernier calliper and physical counting of stem and leaf, respectively. In addition the biomass yield was obtained on dry matter basis. The coefficient of determination (R2) for plots of plant leaves against height were 0.9671 and 0.9122 for treatment and control, respectively, while the total biomass yield were 2423.24 kg/ha and 822.17 kg/ha for treatment and control, respectively. Furthermore, water use efficiency of 1.28 kg/m3 was obtained for the entire growing period for full and control irrigation respectively. This preliminary results suggest that sprinkler irrigation can lead to increase productivity of okra and is, therefore, recommended for supplemental irrigation of okra, particularly in Owo, and in the sub-humid south-western Nigeria.