Sodium Polyacrylate and NPK Resources as Alternative Soil for Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) Plant

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Soil is essential for plant growth because it provides support for plant roots and serves as a medium for the uptake of minerals and nutrients. But nowadays, agricultural uses of soil seem to have declined due to rapid urbanization and land conversion, which results in the compelling need to find alternatives. Hence, the researchers investigate the use of sodium polyacrylate with NPK resources as an alternative for growing okra.

METHODS

This study was investigated using two set-ups with five replicates each. Set-up A, which served as the control, uses an ordinary loam soil. Set-up B, which is the experimental set-up, was prepared using 640g of sodium polyacrylate mixed with 12g of powdered squash seeds, 12g of goat manure and 12g of sweet potato peelings using a predetermined ratio.

RESULTS

Results revealed that in terms of height, sample okra plants were grown in natural soil has a mean height of 23.29 while those grown in alternative soil has a mean height of 30.26 cm. in terms of the mean length of leaves sample okra plants grown in natural soil have a mean value of 7.56 while those grown in alternative soil has a mean value of 7.67. Furthermore, 5 leaves were absorbed from sample okra planted in natural soil while the mean obtained for sample planted in alternative soil is 5.5.

DISCUSSIONS

Result shows that okra plants grown in the experimental set-up are significantly taller.