Nutritional Evaluation of Okra Pod and Mother Soil as Influenced by Sawdust Ash, Ammonium nitrate and NPK

摘要

The demand for okra usually exceeds what is being produced in Nigeria. Poor soil fertility due to soil degradation partly accounts for the low yield of the crop. Inorganic and organic fertilizers have been found to effectively replenish soil nutrients' losses. Hence this study aimed at carrying out the nutritional evaluation of okra pod and mother soil as influenced by sawdust ash (SDA) on soil properties and okra pod nutrients when used alone or combined with Ammonium nitrate or NPK. There were ten treatments replicated three times in a Randomized Complete Block Design. Treatments were applied three weeks after planting by ring method with NPK or Ammonium nitrate and SDA mixed. The test soil indicated that it was marginal in organic matter, inadequate in available P and slightly acidic. Sole SDA increase the soil P relative to control and sole use of Ammonium nitrate or NPK in 2016. SDA and its combination with NPK or Ammonium nitrate increased soil N, available P, exchangeable K, Ca, and Mg in 2015. SDA alone with its varying combination with Ammonium nitrate and NPK increase the leaf N, K, Ca, P, Mg contents. Addition of SDA to chemical fertilizer such as NPK or Ammonium nitrate increases the soil and plant nutrients and also had liming effects.