Effect of organic and mineral fertilizers on growth and fruit yield of okra (Abelmoscus esculentus) in the valley of Bénoué, North-Cameroon

Study was conducted in the experimental site of Kismatari. Objective of the study is to study the effect of different doses of organic and mineral fertilizers on the development of five varieties of okra in North Cameroon. Levels of doses were: T0 = control, T1 = organic fertilizers (100 % of the compost), T2 = mineral fertilizers (100 % NPK-urea) and T3 = organic + mineral fertilizers (50 % compost and 50 % NPK-Urea). Experimental design was a split plot with 3 replications, which two factors: factor 1 consisting of 5 varieties and the factor 2 with doses of fertilizers (organic and mineral). Evaluation parameters were: the growth of plants (height), the diameters of fresh fruits, the length of fresh fruits, the weight of fresh fruit, the height of insertion of first fruit and the height of plant at the first harvest, precocity and yields. Ours results revealed that there is a significant difference between the growth of variety V4 and that of other varieties in response to organic, mineral fertilizers and the combination of fertilizers from 40 to 80 DAS (days after sowing). However, there is an increase in the height of varieties during the growing. The date of 50 % of flowering and appearance of the floral buttons at 50 % varies according to varieties and levels of doses. However, the flowering at 50 % and appearance of floral buttons are earlier for varieties V2, V3, V4 compared to varieties V1 and V5. Despite the positive differentiation on phenological aspects according to the varieties, the height of insertion of first fruit and height of plant at the first harvest were most significant for the variety V4 with the doses of organic, mineral fertilizers and both fertilizers.