Abstract:
A field experiment was carried out in the Eastern region of Sri Lanka to feasibility
evaluate the effect of cow and poultry manures as a basal application on seed yield
of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) in sandy regosol. It was experimented in a
Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with seven treatments and three
replicates. They included inorganic (control) and organic (cow and poultry manures
at the different ratios: 5:0, 4: 1, 3:2, 2:3, and 0:5 w/w) fertilizer applications. Air
dried organic manures were applied two weeks before planting and other
agronomic practices were done as recommended. The results revealed that the
number of mature fruits per plant, number of seeds per mature fruit, oven dried
weight of mature fruit per plant, air and oven dried weights of seeds per mature
fruit increased by 45.86%, 29.22%, 62.33%, 1 1.29%, 34.9%, and 34.58% respectively
3:2 ratio of cow and poultry manures when compared to the control treatment. The
same exhibited significantly (P<0.05) higher seed yield (0.85 kg/plot, plot size was
7.2 m2
) than other tested treatments. The combined use of cow and poultry
manures at 3:2 ratio therefore, could be used to substitute the inorganic basal
fertilizer application for seed production of okra in sandy regosol.
