International Journal of Environment and Pollution Research Vol.8, No.4 pp.21-30, October 2020 Published by ECRTD-UK Print ISSN: 2056-7537(print), Online ISSN: 2056-7545(online) 21 PRODUCTIVITY EVALUATION OF TWO CONTRASTING WATERSHED USING OKRA AS A TEST CROP Nnabude, P. C., * Nweke, I. A., 1 Ekwealor, K. U. * Igwe A. C., 1 Anochie C. 1 * Department of Soil and Land Resource Management, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria 1 Department of Soil Science Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University nweksoniyke@gmail.com ABSTRACT: Bioproductivity of two contrasting watershed management system were evaluated in pot and field experiment to ascertain the effect of management and slope on the productivity of okra. The field studies were conducted on four slope gradients of watershed in an experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The pot experiments were carried out on the soils of the two management practices (managed and unmanaged) and were arranged in a complete randomized design (CRD) with three replicates. NPK fertilizer 15:15:15 at the rate of 150kg/ha was applied as blanket treatment and okra used as test crop. The experiment was carried out on a sandy loam typic paleudult in Amawbia Anambra state southeast Nigerian. The data generated from the study were subjected to analysis of variance and significant mean differences were separated using least significant difference (LSD). The result of the study showed that natural environments of the four slopes in managed plots significantly increased the growth and yield parameters of okra than the unmanaged plots. Slope 4 (plain) of the managed watershed recorded statistically similar productivity with the unmanaged plots by virtue of their non-significant difference (P < 0.05) exhibited in most of the parameters assessed. The NPK fertilizer result indicated that the treatment boasted the productivity of both managed and unmanaged watershed ecosystem. KEYWORDS: Ecosystem, depth, management system, NPK, okra, watershed. INTRODUCTION Okra is grown for its pod used as vegetable and as soup thickener. In Nigeria 1-2 million hectares of land are under okra production (FPDD, 1989) indicating the importance of the crop to the Nigerian famers. It is widely cultivated all over Africa hence can be found in almost every market all over Africa (Shippers, 2000). The nutritional constituents of okra include oil, carbohydrate, others are magnesium and phosphorous. The crop grows to a height between 20-100cm and pod diameter of between 5-15cm irrespective of the species (Nweke et al 2013ab) the matured fruits which contain a mucilaginous substance is useful as blood volume expanders or plasma replacement and also in the manufacture of paper (Majanbu et al., 1985). The stem is used in increasing intestinal peristalses due to its high crude fibre content and the oil in the seed could be as high as poultry eggs and soybeans (Oyolu 1980). The root juice is used to treat cuts, wounds and boils while its seed serve as stimulants. The crop is shallow feeder with regard to soil nutrients demand, uptake and depth of root proliferation in soil. The plant however is tolerant and sensitive to varying soil and climatic conditions. Therefore soil deemed suitable for intensive production of