EVALUATION OF SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES, GROWTH AND YIELD OF OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus) AS INFLUENCED BY COMPOSTED POULTRY MANURE AND NPK (15:15:15) FERTILIZER

Greenhouse and laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of organic manure (Poultry Manure) and NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer on soil chemical properties, growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Six treatments {T1-2.5tons/ha poultry manure, T2- 5tons/ha poultry manure, T3- 2.5tons/ha poultry manure + 100kg/ha NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer, T4- 5tons/ha poultry manure + 100kg/ha NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer, T5- 100kg/ha NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer, T6- Control (no fertilizer/poultry manure application)} were used. The treatments were replicated three times, and laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD). In the greenhouse, the experiment lasted for twelve weeks and data were collected on the following growth and yield parameters: plant height, number of leaves, stem girth, number of fruits and fruit weight at harvest. Results obtained indicated that growth and yield of okra were lowest in the control treatments, indicating that the organic manure used in the study (poultry manure) positively influenced the growth and yield of the okra. Poultry manure positively increased okra plant height by 199.3% and increased number of fruits of okra by 5.77% compared to the control treatments. Fresh fruit weight was also significantly (p