Response of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) and soilproperties to different mulch materials in different cropping seasons

Adekiya, A.O and Agbede, T.M and Aboyeji, C.M and Dunsin, O (2017) Response of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) and soilproperties to different mulch materials in different cropping seasons. Scientia Horticulturae, 217. pp. 209-216.

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Abstract

tThe type of materials used as mulch and season of application may determine its impact on soil physicaland chemical properties and crop yield. Hence, field experiments were carried out during 2015 (dry) and2016 (wet) cropping seasons to determine the effect of various mulch materials on soil properties, leafnutrient composition, yield and growth of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench). The experimentconsisted of four mulch materials (a) Pueraria phaseoloides, (b) Mucuna pruriens, (c) Pennisetum pur-pureum), (d) Panicum maximum and a control (no mulch application). The five treatments were arrangedin a randomized complete block design with four replications. Application of mulch reduced bulk den-sity, soil temperature and increased porosity, soil moisture content, pH, OM, soil and leaf N, P, K, Ca, Mg,pod yield and growth of okra compared with the control. Legume mulch materials (LMM) (Pueraria andMucuna) produced higher values of OM, N, P, K, Ca and Mg compared with grass mulch materials (GMM)(Pennisetum and Panicum) in both seasons. GMM significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced bulk density and soiltemperature and increased porosity and moisture content compared with the LMM in 2015. The correla-tion coefficient showed that the yield of okra in 2015 was dependent on soil physical properties while theyield in 2016 was dependent on soil chemical properties. GMM in 2015 produced 49% and 158% higherpod yield compared with LMM and the control, respectively. LMM increased the pod yield of okra in 2016by 56% and 122% compared with GMM and the control, respectively. Therefore the use of grass materialsas mulch in the dry season and the use of legume mulches during the wet season maximized yields.

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