Comparative Effects of Organic and Plastic Mulches on the Environment, Growth and Yield of Okra in A Derived Savanna Zone of Nigeria

The effectiveness of grass and black plastic mulches in modulating the environment, growth and yield of okra was compared in field experiments as the rainy season was winding up in Abakaliki, a derived savanna zone of Southeastern Nigeria. Black plastic mulch raised the soil daily temperature higher, promoted earliness in okra seed germination and flowering, prevented complete weed growth and influenced higher germination percentage than both grass and zero mulches while, grass mulch did better than the zero mulch treatment in all the parameters in 2009 than in 2008. There was 100 % weed suppression on the black plastic mulched beds, while 54.9 % weed suppression was achieved by grass mulch, and soil temperatures were significantly modulated for good crop growth by both mulches. The use of plastic mulch (plasticulture) is a veritable tool in promoting vegetable production in this zone as it promoted crop growth and yield, impacted on the environment especially weed control in comparison with organic mulch on an exotic okra variety Clemson spineless and hence, highly recommended in this zone.