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Component Of Yield Of Okra Plant (abelmescus Esculentus)
[A CASE STUDY OF OVIA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA]
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 4]
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About 50 to 60 days after planting edible pods will start to appear they
are tough when mature, so harvest daily with a sharp knife when they
are no more than finger sized and when stems are still tender and easy
to cut. Pick frequently and the plants will keep producing until killed
by frost. Be sure to remove and compost any mature pods you might have
missed earlier.
Many people find their skins are sensitive to the
pods prickly spines, so wear gloves and long sleeves when harvesting or
plant a spineless variety such as “Clemson Spinelessâ€.
GROWING GUIDELINES AND PROBLEMS
When
okra is four (4) inch tall, much to keep out weeds and conserve
moisture, water during dry spells. Every 3 to 4 weeks side dress with
compost or feed with compost tea.
Okra seldom succumbs to pest or
diseases. Hand pick any stinbugs that appear, these light green,
shield-shaped bugs cause miss happen pods. To control corn ear worms,
cabbage loopers, aphids, or flea beetles, go to the top ten garden
insects pests fusarium, wilt, a soil borne disease is sometimes a
problem in hot region. If the disease causes leaves to yellow and wilt,
pull and destroy affected plants. Crop rotation is the best preventive
measure.
PRODUCTION REQUIREMENT
Okra is grown throughout North
Carolina in home gardens and for commercial markets. It is a warm season
crop that belongs to the cotton (mallow) family and should not be
planted until the soil has thoroughly warmed in the spring. Okra is
referred to as ‘cumbo’ in some areas.
Well drained sandy loams high
in organic matter are the most desirable. It is difficult to get good
stands on heavy clays. Poorly drained soils may result in drowning of
the plants. Okra is susceptible to several soil borne disease pests
(nematodes, southern stem blight and wilts) thus crop rotation should be
so planned to avoid these where possible.
Clemson Spineless: Is a
uniform spineless variety with medium dark green, angular pods. It
requires 55 to 58 days from seeding to maturity.
Lee: Is a spineless variety with deep bright green, very straight angular pods. The plant is a semi-dwarf type.
Emerald: is a spineless variety with dark green, smooth, round pods. It requires 58 to 60 days from seeding to maturity.
Annie
Oakley: Is a hybrid, spineless variety with bright green, angular pods.
It requires 53 to 55 days from seeding to maturity.
Prelude (PVP) is
a new open pollinated, spineless variety with very dark glossy green
fluted pods. It can be harvested when pods are ½ to ¾ inches longer and
still remain tender. It requires 50 to 55 days from seed and generally
yields better than Clemson spineless.
Before planting, have the soil
tested and follow recommendations. If no soiltest was made a great
recommendation would be to apply 25 to 30 ib nitrogen. 50 to 70 IB of
P205 and 50 to 70 Ib K20 per acre and make two side dressing of 20
pounds nitrogen each, beginning when plants are 6 to 8 inches tall and
again 2 to 3 weeks later. Additional side dressing may be needed if
heavy rains occur. Do not over use nitrogen, since it can cause
excessive vigor and poor yield.OKRA PLANT
SPACING AND SEEDLING
Space
rows 36 to 42 inch as part with 12 to 15 inch as between plants. Seed
should be chemically treated to reduce “damping-off†(seedling rot) and
planted about one inch deep. To establish good stands plant 3 to 4 seeds
per ft and thin. 6 to 7 Ib of seed are required to plant one acre,
soaking seeds over night will hasten germination.
CULTIVATION AND WEED CONTROL
Okra
is harvested over a long period of time and full season weed control is
important. Where mechanical cultivation is necessary it should be
shallow and only as often as necessary to control weeds.
Harvested
okra deteriorates rapidly and normally it is stored only for a short
periods. If the pods are in good condition, they can be stored 7 to 10
days at 45 to 500f and 90 to 95% humidity. Upon removal from storage the
pods must be sold relatively quickly. At temperatures below 450f okra
is subject to chilling injury which results in surface discoloration,
pitting and decay.OKRA PLANT
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 4]
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]The components of yield of okra fruits in terms of fruit length, weight, number seeds, number grooves and weight in Udoh and Okada markets in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State investigated. The average length of okra fruits in location A and B in Udoh market were 5.62cm and 6.8cm while the average length of okra fruits in location A and B in Okada Market were 11.02cm and 10.32cm. The average number of grooves of okra fruit in location A and B in Udoh market were 6.8 and 7.8 whil ... Continue reading---
