Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) is an important vegetable crop valued for its nutritional, medicinal, and economic significance, but its productivity is highly constrained by water stress, particularly in rain-fed farming systems. A pot experiment was conducted during the 2024 cropping season at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, to assess the effects of water stress and varietal differences on the growth and yield of okra. Three varieties (Lady’s Finger, NHAe-474, and V35) were subjected to watering regimes (0, 5, 10, and 15-day intervals) in a 3 × 4 factorial arrangement laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Data were collected on growth parameters (plant height, stem girth, and number of leaves) at 6 and 7 weeks after planting (WAP), as well as yield traits (leaf area, number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit weight per plant, and total yield).
Results revealed that water stress significantly reduced both vegetative growth and yield performance. Plants irrigated at shorter intervals (0–5 days) produced taller plants (25.21–31.84 cm), thicker stems (4.88–5.81 mm), more leaves (5.61–5.72), and superior yield indices, including greater leaf area (148.62 cm²), higher fruit number (23.10), longer fruits (6.45 cm), heavier fruit weight per plant (385.2 g), and total yield (27.5 t/ha). Conversely, prolonged irrigation intervals (10–15 days) suppressed growth and reduced yield, with 15-day water stress producing the lowest total yield (22.4 t/ha). Varietal differences were also evident, as Lady’s Finger consistently recorded higher values for both vegetative and yield traits compared with NHAe-474 and V35, indicating superior vigor and adaptability under limited moisture conditions. The findings suggest that while okra can withstand water stress up to 5 days without significant yield reduction, prolonged stress markedly suppresses growth and yield. It is therefore recommended that irrigation intervals for okra should not exceed 5 days, and resilient varieties such as Lady’s Finger be promoted in the study area.
