Influence of Farmyard Manure and Weeding Regimes on Growth and Yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) in Zaria

Field experiments were conducted during the 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons to investigate the effect of farmyard manure and weeding regimes on the growth and yield of okra. The study was a factorial experiment laid out in split plot design, replicated three times. Farm yard manure was assigned as main plot treatments, while weeding regimes was assigned as sub plot treatments. Parameters measured included plant height, number of leaves plant , number of branches plant , leaf area plant , number of pods plant , pod yield plant 1 1 1 1 1 and pod yield ha . The results revealed that these parameters increased significantly with an increase in 1 treatments of both farmyard manure and weeding regimes. The significant increases were attributed to availability of nutrients as well as appropriate timing of weeding which reduced the negative influence of weeds in the field. Higher growth and yield parameters were observed in plots treated with 12 t ha of farmyard 1 manure and 3 weeding regimes. Therefore, application of 12 t ha of farmyard manure and 3 weeding regimes 1 which significantly enhanced growth and yield of okra is recommended to our farmers.