Effects of Crop Bio-life on Growth and Yield of Wild Okra (Corchorus olitorious L.) in a Sub-tropical Environment
Nosihle Mndzebele
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Eswatini, P.O. Luyengo M205, Luyengo, Eswatini.
Michael T. Masarirambi *
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Eswatini, P.O. Luyengo M205, Luyengo, Eswatini.
Kwanele A. Nxumalo
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Eswatini, P.O. Luyengo M205, Luyengo, Eswatini.
Paul K. Wahome
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Eswatini, P.O. Luyengo M205, Luyengo, Eswatini.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Crop bio-life is used as a foliar spray to enhance the symbiotic effect between roots and soil micro-organisms enabling the plant to better assimilate nutrients essential for growth. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of crop bio-life on growth, yield and quality of wild okra. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. The experiment consisted of four treatments. The treatments were different crop bio-life concentrations of 0, 25, 50 and 75 ppm. The highest plant height (103.5 cm) was obtained in plants treated with 25 ppm crop bio-life and the lowest plant height (91.2 cm) was in plants treated with 75 ppm crop bio-life. Plants with the highest chlorophyll content (29.08 µmol per m2) were those treated with 50 ppm crop bio-life while the lowest (18.6 µmol per m2) was 0 ppm treatment. The highest wild okra yield of 22.3 g leaf wet mass was obtained in plants treated with 25 ppm crop bio-life and the lowest yield (12.9 g) obtained from plants applied with 75 ppm crop bio-life. From the results of this study, it was observed that the plants treated with 25 ppm crop bio-life grew better and had a higher yield, therefore, it is the treatment recommended to farmers.
Keywords: Crop bio-life, concentration, growth and yield, wild okra, Corchorus olitorious L.