GROWTH RESPONSE OF OKRA TO WATER DEFICIT (STRESS)


GROWTH RESPONSE OF OKRA TO WATER DEFICIT (STRESS)  

CHAPTER ONE

ABSTRACT

A practical experiment to determine the growth responses of okra; Abelmoschus esculentus to water deficit. Okra seeds was planted for this experiment, sixteen (16) nylon pots were employed. There were four (4) treatments and four (4) replicates. The plants were arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD). The number of leaves, leaf area, number of fruits and plant height were significantly increased, (P<0.05) when plants were watered daily and once per week. There was a general increase in these parameters when watering was done twice per week. However, there was a significant increase in the root fresh weight when plant was watered thrice per week. Although, there was a general reduction detected among the parameters watered thrice per week. The implications of the results obtained have been discussed. 

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 ORIGIN AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

        Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) (L moench), is a vegetable crop belonging to the family Malvaceae. It is widely cultivated in the tropics for its young fresh leaves and fruits used in thickening soup as vegetable in many countries of the world (Nwangburuka et al, 2011).

         In south eastern parts of Nigeria, okra is an important vegetable in traditional draw soup which is a delicacy among Efik, Ibibio and Igbo tribes. Okra seeds are good sources of quality edible oil and protein while the whole fruit contain vitamins, minerals such as calcium and potassium, calories and amino acids (Berry et al, 1988). On the whole, okra is regarded as a popular health food as it has high fiber, vitamin C and foliate contents (Corleone, 2004).

          Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is cultivated throughout the tropical and temperate regions of the world for its fibrous fruits or pods containing round, white seeds. It is among the most heat-and drought- tolerant vegetable species in the world and will tolerate soils with heavy clay and intermittent moisture but frost can damage the pods. In compounds farms in the rainforest of South eastern Nigeria (Okafor and Fernandez 1986). Vegetables are important protective food for the maintenance of good health and prevention of disease. It contains valuable food ingredients, which can be successfully utilized to build up and repair the body (Bakhru 2003, Edet and Etim 2007). Vegetables are valuable in maintaining alkaline reserve in the body. They are valued mainly for their high vitamin and mineral content (Bakhru 2003). The production of vegetable has become very popular in many countries of the world due to its importance in the diet of the people. The production of vegetable has been recognized as the most affordable and accessible sources of micronutrients, which increasingly regarded as a catalyst for rural development and as a means of generating and increasing foreign exchange in Africa (AVRDC 2004). Okra production constitutes about 4.6% of the total staple food production in Nigeria in 1970-2003 (CBN, 2004). Okra is the most important fruit vegetable crop and a source of calorie (4550kcal/kg) for human consumption. It ranks first before other vegetable crops (Babatunde et al, 2007). It is one of the most commonly grown vegetable crops in the tropics. Okra cultivation and production has been widely practiced because of its importance to the economic development and can be found in almost every market in Africa.

Varieties vary by plant, height, size of fruit, color, early or late maturity e.t.c viz white velvet, green velvet, long pod, lady finger, dwarf green pods (Udoh et al, 2005). The presence of vitamin c and foliate makes it a good source of antioxidants. The stem bark is good for making fibers and ropes. Cultivation of okra in Nigeria and most west African countries is done by small scale farmers with low inputs who often do not get maximum yield possible for this crop in the available marginal soils yield. Those of them that can afford depend on heavy inorganic fertilizers in most soils of the tropics has been reported to be accompanied by soil acidity problems (Kang et al, 1990).

The geographical origin of okra is disputed, with supporters of South Asian, Ethiopian and West African origins. Supporters of a South Asian origin point to the presence of its proposed parents in the region. Supporters of a West African origin point to the greater diversity of okra in that region.

The Egyptians and Moors of the 12th and 13th centuries used the Arabic word for the plant, bamya, suggesting it had come from the east. The plant may have entered south west Asia across the Red sea or the Bab-el-mandeb strait to the Arabian Peninsula, rather than north across the Sahara or from India. One of the earliest accounts is by a Spanish Moor who visited Egypt in 1216, who described the plant under cultivation by the locals who ate the tender young pods with meal (“okra or Gumbo”, from Africa, tamu.edu). From Arabia, the plant spread around the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and eastward. The plant was introduced to the Americas by ships plying the Atlantic slave trade (“okra Gumbo and rice” by Sheila, Walker, the news courier) by 1658, when its presence was recorded in Brazil. It was further documented in Suriname in 1686. Okra may have been introduced to South eastern North America from Africa in the early 18th century. By 1748, it was being grown as far north as Philadelphia. Thomas Jefferson noted it was well established in Virginia by 1781. It was common place throughout the southern united states by 1800, and the first mention of different cultivars was in 1806 (“Okra or Gumbo, from tamu.edu).

1.2 BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF OKRA

Okra plant has a deep taproot its stem is semi woody and sometimes pigment with green or reddish tinges color, it is erect, variable in branching, with many short branches to thick semi woody stem. The stem attains heights from 3 feet in dwarf varieties to 7 0r 8 feet in others. The woody stems bear leaves that are lobed and  are hairy, some reaching up to 12 inches in length. Leaves are chordate (heart shaped) simple, usually palmately 3-7 lobed and veined leaves are subtended by a pair of narrow stipules. The okra is dark green in color and resembles a maple leaf.

The flowers are borne vertically only on the orthotropic axis every two or three days. The flower axillary and solitary borne on a peduncle 2.0-25cm long. The flowers are large around 2 inches in diameter with the five white to yellow petals with a red or purple spot at the base of each petal and flower will last only for a day. Each blossom develops a small green pod. The flowers are almost always bisexual and actinomorphic. The perianth consists of 5 valvate distinct or basally connate sepals and 5 distinct petals that are usually basally adanate to the androecium. The androecium consists of numerous monadelphous stamens with typically divergent filaments bearing 1-celled anthers. The gynoecium is a single compound pistil of 2-many carpel, an equal number of styles or style branches, and a superior ovary with 2-many locules, each bearing 1-numerous ovules. The calyx is completely fused to form a protective case for the floral bud and splits into lobes when the bud opens. The calyx, corolla and stamens are fused together at the base and fall off as one piece after anthesis.

1.3 SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom: - plantae

Division: mangnoliophyta

Class: mangnoliopsida

(unranked): Rosids

Order: malvales

Family: malvaceae

Genus: Abelmoschus

Species: A. esculentus

1.3.1 Constituents

⦁ Fruit contain abundant pectin, mucilage, starch, some fat, 4% water, 80.7% and ash, 1.4%

⦁ Roots yield gum, 16% and the seeds yield vitamin c.

⦁ Seeds yield palmitic acid, 27.33%, stearic acid, 2.75% arachidic acid, 0.05%, oleic acid, 43.74%, linolic acid, 26.62%, unsaponified matter, 0.37%.

1.3.2 Properties

Whole plant is aromatic, with an odor resembling cloves. Very mucilaginous when cooked. Parts utilized are the leaves, young pods, seeds and roots.

1.4 NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF OKRA PER 100g (3.502) OKRA AS FOOD

Energy 33kcal (140kj)

Carbohydrates 7.45g

Sugar 1.48g

Dietary fiber 3.2g

Fat 0.19g

Protein 2.00g

Vitamin A equiv. (5%) 36ug

Thiamine (B1) (17%) 0.2g

Riboflavin (B2) (5%) 0.06mg

Niacin (B3) (7%) 1mg

Vitamin C (28%) 23mg

Vitamin E (2%) 0.27mg

Vitamin K (30%) 31.3ug 

Calcium            (8%) 82mg

Iron (5%) 0.62mg

Magnesium (16%) 57mg

Potassium (6%) 299mg

Zinc (6%) 0.58mg

Okra leaves may be cooked in a similar way to the greens of beets or dandelions (M.S Milliken and S.Feniger, 1996).

Since the entire plant is edible, the leaves are also eaten raw in salads. Okra seeds may be roasted and grounded to form a caffeine-free substitute for coffee (Tamu. edu). 

When importation of coffee was disrupted by the American civil war in 1861, the Austin state Gazette said “an acre of okra will produce seed enough to furnish a plantation of fifty negreves with coffee in every way equal to that imported from Rio (Austin state Gazette Tex, Nov.9, 1861).

Okra is a popular health food due to its high fiber, vitamin C, and foliate content. Okra is also known for being high in antioxidants. It is also a good source of calcium and potassium (Duvauchelle, Joshua May 26, 2011).

1.5 JUSTIFICATION OF STUDY

In Nigeria, vegetable such as okra are important protective food for the maintenance of health and prevention of disease. It contains valuable food ingredients, which can be successfully utilized to build up and repair the body (Bakhru, 2003, Edet and Etim 2007). Okra production constitutes about 4.6% of the total staple food production in Nigeria from 1970-2003 (CBN, 2004). Okra is the most important fruit vegetable crop and a source of calorie (440kcal/kg) for human consumption. It ranks first before other vegetable crops (Babatunde et al, 2007). It is one of the most commonly grown vegetable in the tropics also has an added advantage of short maturity period. Therefore the turn over is rapid while farmers make quick returns in a short time.

Therefore need there is a need to investigate the growth responses of the vegetable to water deficit, when known, the best watering regime and its responses to water stress (deficit) will be introduced to the populace for utilization.

1.6 AIM AND OBJECTIVES

1.6.1 AIM

To determine the growth responses of okra to high and low watering concentrations.

1.6.2 OBJECTIVES

i. To determine the best watering regime for okra plant.

ii. To establish a fact about the growth responses of okra plant to less water volume.

.


TYPE IN YOUR TOPIC AND CLICK SEARCH.






RESEARCHWAP.COM

Researchwap.com is an online repository for free project topics and research materials, articles and custom writing of research works. We’re an online resource centre that provides a vast database for students to access numerous research project topics and materials. Researchwap.com guides and assist Postgraduate, Undergraduate and Final Year Students with well researched and quality project topics, topic ideas, research guides and project materials. We’re reliable and trustworthy, and we really understand what is called “time factor”, that is why we’ve simplified the process so that students can get their research projects ready on time. Our platform provides more educational services, such as hiring a writer, research analysis, and software for computer science research and we also seriously adhere to a timely delivery.

TESTIMONIES FROM OUR CLIENTS


Please feel free to carefully review some written and captured responses from our satisfied clients.

  • "Exceptionally outstanding. Highly recommend for all who wish to have effective and excellent project defence. Easily Accessable, Affordable, Effective and effective."

    Debby Henry George, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA.
  • "I saw this website on facebook page and I did not even bother since I was in a hurry to complete my project. But I am totally amazed that when I visited the website and saw the topic I was looking for and I decided to give a try and now I have received it within an hour after ordering the material. Am grateful guys!"

    Hilary Yusuf, United States International University Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • "Researchwap.com is a website I recommend to all student and researchers within and outside the country. The web owners are doing great job and I appreciate them for that. Once again, thank you very much "researchwap.com" and God bless you and your business! ."

    Debby Henry George, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA.
  • "I love what you guys are doing, your material guided me well through my research. Thank you for helping me achieve academic success."

    Sampson, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
  • "researchwap.com is God-sent! I got good grades in my seminar and project with the help of your service, thank you soooooo much."

    Cynthia, Akwa Ibom State University .
  • "Great User Experience, Nice flows and Superb functionalities.The app is indeed a great tech innovation for greasing the wheels of final year, research and other pedagogical related project works. A trial would definitely convince you."

    Lamilare Valentine, Kwame Nkrumah University, Kumasi, Ghana.
  • "Sorry, it was in my spam folder all along, I should have looked it up properly first. Please keep up the good work, your team is quite commited. Am grateful...I will certainly refer my friends too."

    Elizabeth, Obafemi Awolowo University
  • "Am happy the defense went well, thanks to your articles. I may not be able to express how grateful I am for all your assistance, but on my honour, I owe you guys a good number of referrals. Thank you once again."

    Ali Olanrewaju, Lagos State University.
  • "My Dear Researchwap, initially I never believed one can actually do honest business transactions with Nigerians online until i stumbled into your website. You have broken a new legacy of record as far as am concerned. Keep up the good work!"

    Willie Ekereobong, University of Port Harcourt.
  • "WOW, SO IT'S TRUE??!! I can't believe I got this quality work for just 3k...I thought it was scam ooo. I wouldn't mind if it goes for over 5k, its worth it. Thank you!"

    Theressa, Igbinedion University.
  • "I did not see my project topic on your website so I decided to call your customer care number, the attention I got was epic! I got help from the beginning to the end of my project in just 3 days, they even taught me how to defend my project and I got a 'B' at the end. Thank you so much researchwap.com, infact, I owe my graduating well today to you guys...."

    Joseph, Abia state Polytechnic.
  • "My friend told me about ResearchWap website, I doubted her until I saw her receive her full project in less than 15 miniutes, I tried mine too and got it same, right now, am telling everyone in my school about researchwap.com, no one has to suffer any more writing their project. Thank you for making life easy for me and my fellow students... Keep up the good work"

    Christiana, Landmark University .
  • "I wish I knew you guys when I wrote my first degree project, it took so much time and effort then. Now, with just a click of a button, I got my complete project in less than 15 minutes. You guys are too amazing!."

    Musa, Federal University of Technology Minna
  • "I was scared at first when I saw your website but I decided to risk my last 3k and surprisingly I got my complete project in my email box instantly. This is so nice!!!."

    Ali Obafemi, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Niger State.
  • To contribute to our success story, send us a feedback or please kindly call 2348037664978.
    Then your comment and contact will be published here also with your consent.

    Thank you for choosing researchwap.com.