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Ponte Academic Journal
May 2021, Volume 77, Issue 5

EFFECT OF NPK FERTILIZER (15:15:15) RATES AND METHODS OF APPLICATION ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF OKRA (ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS L.) AT SITE III FARM, THE GAMBIA

Author(s): S.A.F. Jallow ,K. Sey, Manneh F. J.

J. Ponte - May 2021 - Volume 77 - Issue 5
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2021.5.1



Abstract:
This study was conducted to determine the effects of NPK fertilizer (15:15:15) rates and methods of application on the Growth and Yield of Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus L.) at the National Agricultural Research Institute site III farm from October and December, 2020. Okra variety Clemson Spineless was treated to four levels of NPK fertilizer 15:15:15 rates (0, 100, 150 and 200 kgha-1) and two methods of fertilizer application (Band and Ring methods). The treatments were arranged in a split-plot design with the fertilizer method of application assigned as the main plots and the fertilizer rates as sub-plot. The treatments were replicated three times to give a total of Twenty-Four plots in the experiment. . The results revealed that higher fertilizer application rates significantly increased in both growth and yield characters. Application of 200kg⁻¹ significantly increased plant height, number of branches, high fruit length per plant, number of fruit per plant and fresh fruit weight per plant than the rest of the treatments. Application of fertilizer in ring had significantly increased yield and yield components (fruit size and number of fruits) of okra than band application. The combination of NPK fertilizer rate of 200kgha⁻¹ and ring application method significantly increased growth and yield of okra compared to the other treatments. These treatments proved to be more economical than other treatments. Therefore, NPK fertilizer rate of 200kgha⁻¹ and ring application method were recommended for multilocation trial at different parts of the country in the form of demonstration plots for farmers.
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