Effect Of Weed Competition On The Yield Of Dry Season Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus) In Umudike

ABSTRACT

The experiment which aims at monitoring the effect of different weeding regimes on the yield of dry season Ora (A be/rn oschus esculenlus) variety— Clemson spineless was conducted at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. The experiment was set up as randomize complete block design (RCBD) with five treatments replicated four times. The parameters measured were, germination count, flower count per plant, fruit number per lant, fresh fruit weight per plant, and weed biomass. Germination of the okra seed was similar in all the treatments (90 - 94%). Mean flower number per plant was similar in plots that were kept weed-free, weeded at 2 and 3 weekly interval and unweeded control. Mean flower number per plant was significantly lower in plots with melon intercrop than in the other plots. Plots weeded at 2 wk, 3 wk and unweeded had similar mean fruit number per plant. These plots significantly differed from the weed- free and melon inter-crop plots in mean fruit number per plant. The mean fresh fruit weight in plots weeded at 2 wk, 3 wk and unweeded plots were similar but significantly different from the weed-free and melon inter-crop plots. Weed biomass was highest in the unweeded control plots followed by plots weeded at 3 and 2 weekly intervals. The result of the experiment suggests that dry season production of okra in Umudike is not viable in view of the low okra yield, and should be discourage except under irrigation.