Econometric Analysis of the Impact of Soil Amendment Variability on Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) Production in Ekowe Community, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigates the econometric relationship between soil amendment variability and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) production, with a focus on the effects of various organic waste-based treatments. Five soil amendment treatments were experimented: T1 (soil only), T2 (soil and rice husk), T3 (soil, rice husk, goat/sheep faeces), T4 (soil, rice husk, pig dung), and T5 (soil, rice husk, pig dung, and goat/sheep faeces). The results indicate that a higher seed germination rate does not necessarily translate to increased yield, suggesting that soil amendments, water availability, spacing, and seed genetics may be influential factors. Furthermore, trend analysis reveals that seed germination alone is not a strong predictor of yield, emphasizing the need for targeted soil management strategies. There is a significant impact of organic amendments on okra fruit production, food security and sustainable agriculture. The break-even analysis result indicates that the farmer reaches break-even early in the second harvest cycle, where the output (83 fruits) significantly exceeds the calculated break-even point of 25 fruits. The results show that adopting strategy amendments and performance evaluations enhances productivity, profitability, and food security through resilient, data-driven agriculture. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and farmers seeking to improve crop productivity through effective soil amendment practices.