Response of Pruning on Growth, Fruit Yield, Nutritional Quality and Nutrient Uptake of Two Okra Varieties (Abelmoschus esculentus)

Field experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of Biotechnology Advanced Research Centre, Sheda Science and Technology Complex, Garki-Abuja in 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons to evaluate response of pruning on growth, fruit yield, nutritional quality and nutrient uptake of okra. The experiment had eight treatment combinations viz: Two okra varieties (Clemson spinless and Gungo Local) and four pruning rates (0, 1 stem, 2 stems and 3 stems), replicated three times. The experiment was factorial fitted into Randomized Complete Block Design. Data were collected on number of leaves per plant, number of fruits, green fruit yield, nutritional quality and nutrient uptake. Data was analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) M.STAT package and treatment means compared using least significant difference (LSD) at 5% probability level. Pruning is beneficial to performance of okra. Plants with 2 stems pruning produced the highest fruit yield (11.60 t ha-1) in 2018 while control plots had the least values (1.80 t ha-1, 1.60 t ha-1) in 2017 and 2018, respectively. It could be concluded that 2 stems pruning increased fruit yield of okra and Clemson spinless performed better than Gungo Local variety and could be recommended for farmers within the study area.