EVALUATION OF APPLICATION METHODS AND RATES OF GOAT MANURE ON THE GROWTH AND POD CHARACTERISTICS OF OKRA (ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS L. MOENCH) IN THE SOUTHERN GUINEA SAVANNAH OF NIGERIA

A Field experiment was conducted at Mokwa (Latitude 09 08’’N and longitude 050 04’’E) and Lapai (Latitude 90 02’ N and Longitude 060 34’E) of the Equator, Southern Guinea Savannah ecology. The experiment was laid in 3 x 4 factorial in a completely randomized block design (CRBD). There were three (3) levels of goat manure application methods (single row application, double row application and ring application) and four (4) levels of goat manure rates (0, 5, 10 and 15 t ha-1). Collected data included plant height/plant, number of leaves/plant and leaf area/plant at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after planting (WAP). Flowering and pod characteristics data included days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, days to first fruiting, days to 50% fruiting, pod length/plant, pod diameter/plant, number of pods/plot and pod cumulative yield/ ton/ha. Data were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Means were separated using Least Significant differences (LSD) at 5% probability level. The results indicated that okra growth parameters were not significantly affected by the goat manure rates at 4WAP. However, at 8 and 12 WAP, okra plant height/plant, number of leaves/plant and leaf area were significantly affected by goat manure method of application and its rates. The ring method of goat manure application and 15 t ha-1 significantly produced taller okra plant, larger number of leaves/plant and widest leaf area/plant at P<0.05 at Mokwa and Lapai in Southern Guinea Savannah in 2015 cropping season. It also supported longest pod/plant (cm), widest pod diameter/plant (cm), largest number of pods/plot and highest cumulative pod yield t ha-1.