Response of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) and soil properties to different mulch materials in different cropping seasons

- Mulches improved soil properties, growth and yield of okra.
- Legume mulches produced higher soil nutrients compared with grass mulch materials.
- Grass mulches improved soil physical properties than legume mulches in the dry season.
- Grass mulches in the dry season and legume mulches in the wet season maximized yields.

The type of materials used as mulch and season of application may determine its impact on soil physical and chemical properties and crop yield. Hence, field experiments were carried out during 2015 (dry) and 2016 (wet) cropping seasons to determine the effect of various mulch materials on soil properties, leaf nutrient composition, yield and growth of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench). The experiment consisted of four mulch materials (a) Pueraria phaseoloides, (b) Mucuna pruriens, (c) Pennisetum purpureum), (d) Panicum maximum and a control (no mulch application). The five treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Application of mulch reduced bulk density, soil temperature and increased porosity, soil moisture content, pH, OM, soil and leaf N, P, K, Ca, Mg, pod yield and growth of okra compared with the control. Legume mulch materials (LMM) (Pueraria and Mucuna) produced higher values of OM, N, P, K, Ca and Mg compared with grass mulch materials (GMM) (Pennisetum and Panicum) in both seasons. GMM significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced bulk density and soil temperature and increased porosity and moisture content compared with the LMM in 2015. The correlation coefficient showed that the yield of okra in 2015 was dependent on soil physical properties while the yield in 2016 was dependent on soil chemical properties. GMM in 2015 produced 49% and 158% higher pod yield compared with LMM and the control, respectively. LMM increased the pod yield of okra in 2016 by 56% and 122% compared with GMM and the control, respectively. Therefore the use of grass materials as mulch in the dry season and the use of legume mulches during the wet season maximized yields.