Effect Of Nylon And Green Grass As Mulching Material On The Growth And Yield Of Okra

Description

ABSTRACT

A study was carried out in the demonstration farm of Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri to investigate the effects of different mulching materials on the growth performance of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.). The treatment include nylon mulch green grass mulch(No mulch) which were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. The results show that growth parameter like plant height, weed count and flower bud count has no significant difference between the treatments but all treatment has some superioty to the control. It is evident from this work soil moisture retention was higher with the use of nylon mulch and soil temperature was lowest in green grass mulch.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COVER PAGE

TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWELDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1      BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

• PROBLEM STATEMENT
• OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
• SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
• APPLICATION OF THE STUDY
• SCOPE OF THE STUDY
• LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
• PROJECT ORGANISATION

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

• ORIGIN AND GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF OKRA
• ECOLOGY AND SEASONAL GROWTH OF OKRA
• MEANING OF MULCHING
• OVERVIEW OF MULCHING
• BENEFITS OF MULCHING
• ADVANTAGES OF NYLON MULCHING
• SELECTION OF MULCH
• METHODS OF MULCHING
• MULCH LAYING TECHNIQUES
• MULCHING TECHNIQUES FOR VEGETABLES /CLOSE SPACE CROP
• PRECAUTIONS FOR MULCH LAYING
• REMOVAL OF MULCH

CHAPTER THREE

3.0      METHODOLOGY

• STUDY AREA
• EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND TREATMENT
• SOURCE OF SEEDS
• FERTILIZER APPLICATION
• WATERING
• PARAMETERS
• PLANT HEIGHT
• SOIL TEMPERATURE
• STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

CHAPTER FOUR

TEST AND RESULT ANALYSIS

• RESULT AND DISCUSSION

CHAPTER FIVE

• CONCLUSION
• RECOMMENDATION
• REFERENCES

CHAPTER ONE

• INTRODUCTION

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) belong to the family of malvaceae, it is an important vegetable crop in Nigeria, and is grown extensively, throughout the country as summer crop. The young tender pods are used fresh or as dry powder in soup and stew. Okra grows and yield better during the summer, whereas the winter grow plant are usually retarded in growth, late in maturity and produce pods that are generally curved and okra purs El Hassan, (1978). Summer crops like okra purslane and sew’s mallow, give their best yield and quantity when planted on the southern side of the ridge during winter, because of the higher soil temperature on this side El Hassan, (1984).

The high economic value of okra crops justified the modification to the producers, improved quality and/or extend the growing season, producer of okra crops often used different mulching types to suppress weed or conversation of moisture near the root of the crop. Mulches affect not only the soil environment. However, the mulches, changes the plants environment depending on the properties of the mulches and the level of the physical contact between the mulches materials and the soil.

The use of nylon and green grass mulches for dry season vegetables production in the research farm, increase the soil temperature, conserves soil moisture. In this manners its play a positive role in the water conservation.

1.1                                           BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Okra (Albelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) species belong to the Malvaceae family and it is grown in tropical and subtropical regions (Tindall, 1983). In Africa, tender young leaves are edible, and the seeds are used as the material for extracting oil (Lamont, 1999). Althought variatal differece is observed, it is usually harvested after 7 days of florescence, and the length becomes tallest after 13 days after florescence, and after 7 ~ 10 days of florescence, the green pods are marketable (Kim et al., 1994). Okra is a vegetable with abundant protein, vitamins and minerals (Olasantan and Bello, 2004). Presently it is a widely planted vegetable crop not only in tropical areas but also in Europe, the U.S., China, and Japan (Kim et al., 1995). The demand for okra is steadily increasing in Korea and it is increasingly recognized as a health food (Ahn et al., 2011). With this in consideratrion, cultivation strategies for stable yield production of okra in Korea have been reported, such as the characteristics of adaptive varieties in Korea(Kim et al., 1994), fertilizing and planting density (Lee et al., 1990), seeding time (Ahn et al., 2012), optimal harvest time of green pod(Kim et al., 1994), and tunnel coverage (Son et al., 2014). Shanthakumar et al. (2011) tried to assess genetic diversity among popular hybrids and to isolate the superior hybrids from the segregated population. However, there are no reports on methods for stable standard cultivation produce systems in Korea.

Generally, mulching lessens water evaporation on the soil surface which facilitates the advantage of increased moisture usage by the crop and increases the yield. In addition, mulching cultivation is beneficial in maintaining moisture in the soil, increasing soil temperature, prevention of weeds, and prevention of soil erosion(Kim and Hong, 1986; Park et al., 2004; Roh and Pyon, 2004; Willis, 1962; Willis et al., 1963). In this view of highly advantageous mulching, it is essential to study the effect of mulching on okra cultivation, which is a tropical and subtropical crop.

Consequently, the present study shows the establishment of stable and standard cultivation methods to increase the yield and self-sufficiency of okra by observing the effect of mulching material on the yield of okra in a Korean environment.

1.2                                                 PROBLEM STATEMENT

Unfavourable whether condition in the soil environment affect the growth and yield of vegetable crop such as okra. In other to cover or protect crops from such attack mulching is used. Mulching is the process or practice of covering the soil/ground to make more favorable condition for plant growths, development and efficient crop production. Mulching:

• prevents the direct evaporations of moisture from the soil and thus limits the water losses and conserves
• can facilitate fertilizer placement and reduce the loss of plant nutrient through
• can provide a barrier to soil

 

1.3                                              OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objective of the research work is to determine the effects of different mulching materials (nylon and green grass ) on the growth of okra. Other objective is:

1. To know which mulching material will have the highest growth
2. Other objectives of his study include the assessment of the effect of organic mulches on growth, yield and soil moisture conservation as well as the ability for weed control

 

1.4                                           SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Mulches are helpful tools to conserve soil moisture which is one of the requirements for higher yields. This study helps in determine the effect of the two different mulching methods on the yield the growth of vegetable crop – okra.

• LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

There is high cost of nylon mulch, organic (green grass) alternatives are a necessity for many small-scale farmers.

• Probability of ‘burning’ or ‘scorching’ of the young pants due to high temperature of black
• Difficulty in application of top dressed fertilizer
• Reptile movement and rodent activities are experienced in some
• More runoff
• Environmental pollution
• Difficult in machinery movement
• Cannot be used for more than one season using thin mulches
• Weed penetration with thin films
• Nylon is Toxic to livestock

1.6                                                      AREAS OF APPLICATION

Mulching is mainly employed for

1. Moisture conservation in rainfed areas
2. Reduction of irrigation frequency and water saving in irrigated areas
3. Soil temperature moderation in greenhouse cultivation
4. Soil solorisation for control of soil borne diseases
5. Reduce the rain impact, prevent soil erosion and maintain soil structure
6. In places where high value crops only to be cultivated

1.7                                                   SCOPE OF THE STUDY

In this work, data were collected and the first results on the effectiveness of the different mulches. His recommendations for small-scale farmers vary depending on the main aims that one pursues. In the green grass mulching mango leaves are best to improve nutrients in the soil as they decompose fast. But this also means that they have to be replenished frequently.

1.8                                                         PROJECT ORGANISATION

The work is organized as follows: chapter one discuses the introductory part of the work,   chapter two presents the literature review of the study,  chapter three describes the methods applied,  chapter four discusses the results of the work, chapter five summarizes the research outcomes and the recommendations.