Abstract

The effect of agricultural wastes and a botanical on root knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp) on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) was investigated in pot experiment. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with five treatments each replicated five times. The treatments included: sawdust, oil palm sludge, cassava peels, bitter leaf powder, carbofuran plus untreated control. All the treatments except oil palm sludge and nematicide were applied at the rate of 20 g each. Oil palm sludge was applied at the rate of 20 ml while the nematicide at 3.0 g ai per plant. The plants were inoculated with 2000 nematode eggs (Meloidogyne spp.) three weeks after emergence. Treatments and fertilizer were applied one and three weeks after inoculation respectively. Eight weeks after treatment application, the experiment was terminated and the following collected; fresh and dry shoot weight, plant height, number of leaves, number of galls, population of nematode eggs in the roots and nematode population in the soil. Results obtained indicated non-significant difference between the treatments in the parameters recorded except plants treated with bitter leaf and nematicide in some cases. Generally, results from bitter leaf were better and compared favourably with the nematicide treated plants.

Key words: Agricultural wastes, Meloidogyne spp, Abelmoschus esculentus