Abstract
Okra is a major source of income for farmers in Nigeria. It is a cheap and highly nutritious vegetable, popular among most tribes and cultures. The response of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) yield/growth to NPK and soybean meal fertilizer (SBM) was examined in 2018 and 2019 early cropping seasons. The experiment was laid out as a randomized complete block design replicated 4 times, with 5 treatments of fertilizer rates including 0, 3, 6, 9 tons/ha of soybean meal (SBM) and 400 kg/ha of NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer. Data collected included plant height, number of days to 50% flowering, and fresh fruit yield (tons/ha). In 2018 and 2019, an increase in plant height increased yield; plant height accounted for 87.6% and 94.9% of the explained variation in yield. Fruit yield declined to as low as 1 ton/ha at the lengthiest days to 50% flowering. Days to flowering accounted for 80.9% (in 2018) and 89.6% (in 2019) of the explained variation in okra fruit yield. In 2018 and 2019, yield increased with increased SBM rates; SBM rates of 9 tons/ha produced the highest of yield 3.52 tons/ha. SBM rates accounted for 82.6% (in 2018) and 94.6% (in 2019) of the variation in fruit yield. This result suggests that SBM application can significantly increase the growth and yield of okra. In the event where NPK fertilizers are inaccessible, okra farmers can be encouraged to substitute for it by applying SBM at 9 tons/ha.