Effects of Liquid Bio-Fertilizer and Poultry Manure on Soil Fertility and Performance of Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus L) in Minna, Nigeria

Abstract

The peasant vegetable farmers in Minna are faced with challenges associated with the use of imported chemical fertilizers, such as high cost, scarcity and short-lived effect of these fertilizers on soil fertility and crop improvement. These challenges have left the farmers with no other option than searching for alternative sources of improving the soil fertility and crop yields.  A research was conducted in the Screen house of Federal University of Technology, Minna, to determine the initial and residual effects of liquid bio-fertilizer and poultry manure on some selected soil properties and yields of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L). Surface Soil (0-15 cm) used for the experiment was collected from the University Teaching and Research Farm. Liquid bio-fertilizer was applied at rate of 100 l ha^-1, 200 l ha^-1 and 300 l ha^-1 and poultry manure at 3 t ha-¹, 6 t ha^-1 and 9 t ha^-1 and a control were fitted in a completely randomized design with four replications which gave a total of 28 pots. Data collected were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Treatments means where significant were separated using the Duncan's Multiple Range Test at 5 % level of probability. The result revealed the effectiveness of liquid bio fertilizer and poultry manure in improvement of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and overall yield of okra. Poultry manure applied at 9 t ha^-1 produced the highest residual effects on the soil and was optimum for production of okra under screen house system.