Comparative Performance of Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus) Under Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation Systems in the Humid Tropics of Nigeria

摘要

In the humid part of Nigeria (South-West), agricultural production is largely rain fed and this needs to be urgently supplemented by irrigation practice if the country is to meet her food demand. Therefore, a study was carried out to ascertain the most suitable irrigation scheme to adopt under our prevailing soil and climatic conditions. Thus, the main objective of this study was to compare performance of a crop (okra) under the two notable irrigation systems; drip and sprinkler and come up with thepreferred.Thus, a 2-year (2007/2008 and 2008/2009) study on the comparative performance of okra under the two methods of water application at the farm site of the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, latitude 7° 16' N and longitude 5° 13f E, Nigeria was conducted.Okra seeds of variety NH - 47 - 4 were planted manually to two separate plots of 10m by 10m each. The plot was sprinkler irrigated while the other was irrigated by drip system.The soil textural class and other soil physical and chemical properties were determined using standard procedures. Growth parameters such as plant heights, stem diameters were taken weekly. Matured edible fruits were harvested twice weekly. Total yieldsof crops were obtained for both drip and sprinkler irrigation systems at the end of harvest each year for two years. Similarly the root depth of plants were obtained at the end of harvest by destructive sampling in both drip and sprinkler irrigation systems.Results show an average of total yield of 5.78 ton/ha was obtained at the drip irrigation system while that of the sprinkler was about 3.5 ton/ha. The average plant height and stem diameter of 67.05 cm and 18.46 cm were obtained at the drip while those of sprinkler were 63.0 cm and 16.0 cm respectively.