International Journal of Agricultural Sciences

ISSN 2167-0447

International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 3 (8), pp. 610-614, August, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Critical period of weed interference in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) in a humid forest and Rainforest-Savanna transition zones of Eastern and Western Nigeria: A Review

Kwara State University, Malete, P.M.B. 1530, Ilorin, Nigeria.

E-mail: [email protected]  or  [email protected]

Accepted 19 August, 2013

Abstract

Data for this review were obtained from the research conducted in Owerri, in the humid forest zone of Nigeria (latitudes 5020’N and 5027’N and between longitudes 70E and 7007’E) in 2007 and 2008, in Ibadan (latitude 7023’N, longitude 3053’E) and Ogbomosho (latitude8O 8’N; longitude 4O 16’E) in the rainforest – savanna transition ecological zones. The objective was to determine the critical period of weed control in okra. In both humid forest and rainforest – savanna transition ecological zones, the critical period of weed control was observed to be between 2 weeks after sowing (WAS) and harvest. However in areas dominated by Tithonia diversifolia weeds in the forest-savanna transitional zone, the critical period of weed control in okra was observed to be between 2 and 4 WAS during the rainy season and only one hoe weeding at 2 (WAS) in the dry season was enough.

Key Words: Critical period, weed interference, okra, weed control, Nigeria.