EFFECT OF INTERCROPPING AND POULTRY MANURE RATES ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF MAIZE AND OKRA.

Field experiments were conducted in 2012 and 2013 cropping seasons at the research farm, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike to determine the effect of intercropping and poultry manure rates on the yield and yield components of okra and maize. The experimental design was a 2 x 4 split plot in a randomized complete block design with 12 treatment combinations replicated three times. The treatments were cropping system (sole maize or sole okra, maize/okra intercrop) as main plot factor and poultry manure rates (0, 5, 10, 15 t/ha) as sub plot factor. The result obtained showed significant effect (P < 0.05) of cropping system on number of leaves per plant and plant height of okra. Intercropping reduced the number of leaves per plant and increased plant height of okra. There was no significant (P > 0.05) effect of cropping system on the growth attributes of maize plants. The yield and yield components of maize and okra plants were reduced under intercropping system. Poultry manure increased the fresh pod yield of okra and grain yield of maize up to 10 t/ha application. There was interaction effect of cropping system and poultry manure rates on fresh pod yield in each year. Within each system highest pod production was obtained when 10 t/ha manure was applied.