ABSTRACT

The study was carried out at the experimental farm of the Department of Crop Science, University of Benin Nigeria to evaluate the effect of harvest interval on the productivity of two Okra varieties (Abelmoscus esculentus). The experiment was designed as a 2 x 4 factorial in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times with two varieties of okra (Clemson spineless and Local) and four harvest intervals (every day, every two days, every three days and every four days). Some vegetative parameters measured were plant height (cm), number of leaves, stem diameter (cm) and leaf area (cm²) while some of the reproductive parameters measured include number of flowers, number of pods, pod length (cm), pod diameter (cm), fifty percent flowering, days to anthesis, harvest index (%), pod yield (kg/ha^-1). Results indicated there was no significant difference in most of the vegetative characters measured except in the plant height. Three days harvest interval significantly influenced the harvest index and had higher values for most of the reproductive parameters measured. The findings suggest that any of the okra varieties can be used at three days harvest interval in this locality.