[01] Amhakhian Sunday O., Department of Soil and Environmental Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria. [02] Isaac Iye Blessing, Department of Soil and Environmental Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria.

A field study was carried out during the 2014 cropping season in Kogi State University Teaching and Research Farm, Anyigba to examine the effect of organic manure such as cow dung, poultry waste, rabbit droppings and swine dung on growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschusesculentus L Moench). The crop used was velvet 35obtained from National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) Ibadan. The experiment was laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatments and four replications under rain-fed conditions. The organic manures were applied at the rate of 7 ton/ha each using drill method two weeks before planting. Data were taken on the growth and yield parameters. Parameters such as plants height, numbers of leaves, plant girth, length and weight of fruits were taken at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after sowing. The result showed that there were significant differences between the treatments in most of the parameters assessed. Poultry manure had the highest values in all the parameters and was significantly different from other treatments and control. Highest height was observed in poultry dropping (12.3cm & 21.88cm) at 4 and 6 WAS, poultry droppings had the highest number of leaves (3.75, 7.60 & 11.23) at 2, 4 and 6 WAS and also had the highest girth at 6 WAS (3.1cm), the highest fruit length was recorded for poultry waste with mean of (9.18) at 8WAS, while the highest yield was recorded for poultry waste (555kg/ha). In a nut shell, poultry manure performed better than other treatments, therefore, it may be recommended that a higher rate of poultry manure be used for optimum growth and yield of okra.

Drill Method, Rain-Fed, Velvet 35, Replication, Optimum, Organic Manure, Poultry Manure, Rabbit Dropping, Swine Dung

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