Abstract

<p>A field experiment was conducted during the 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons at the Rivers Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (RIART), Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, to evaluate the effects of plant spacing and harvest frequency on the growth and fruit yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L., var. NHE47-4). The experiment employed a factorial arrangement within a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Treatments included three plant spacing levels (50 cm × 30 cm, 50 cm × 40 cm, and 50 cm × 50 cm) and three harvest intervals (daily, every 2 days, and every 3 days).</p>
<p>Results revealed that wider spacing (50 cm × 50 cm) significantly (p &lt; 0.05) enhanced stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, fruit size, and fresh fruit yield per plant compared to the closest spacing (50 cm × 30 cm) across both seasons. In contrast, the closest spacing (50 cm × 30 cm) significantly increased plant height and overall fresh fruit yield per hectare, producing 19.48 t/ha and 19.75 t/ha in 2016 and 2017, respectively.</p>
<p>Regarding harvest frequency, harvesting at 3-day intervals produced the longest and heaviest fruits per plant; however, these fruits were fibrous and unmarketable. In contrast, harvesting every 2 days resulted in fruits that were both substantial in size and tender in texture—highly suitable for market demands. The combination of medium plant spacing (50 cm × 40 cm) with a 2-day harvest interval (PS2H2) yielded the highest marketable fresh fruit output, reaching 20.51 t/ha in 2016 and 21.34 t/ha in 2017.</p>
<p>This study demonstrates that both plant spacing and harvest interval significantly influence the vegetative growth, yield components, and marketability of okra. For optimal yield and quality, a spacing of 50 cm × 40 cm combined with a 2-day harvest interval is recommended for commercial okra production</p>