Disseminating Earlier Research Findings on Flooding Effects on Yields of an Indigenous Vegetable (Corchorus olitorius L) in Ekpoma: Implications for Climate Change in South–South Nigeria

Abstract

In 1987 and 1988, experiments were done to determine the response of Corchorus olitorius to flooded soils at Ambrose Ali University demonstration plot in Ekpoma. The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of floods on Corchorus olitorius yields. The study discovered a substantial detrimental reaction of the vegetable crop to floods (P<0.05). The typical impacts were low dry weight yields, wilting and yellowing of leaves, which eventually resulted in senescence and plant death. Despite the fact that flooding lowered yields by 91.7%, control plants yielded significantly (P<0.05) more dry matter (2.4 g/plant) than flooded plants (0.2 g/plant) at week eight. Similarly, after eight weeks of treatment, the leaf area of flooded plants was 0.76cm²/plant, compared to 11.64cm²/plant for control plants. As a result of flooding effects, a 93.5% reduction was obtained. The plants’ response to flooding confirmed that as the flooding continued, yield decreased dramatically (P<0.05). This in-depth understanding of the effects of floods on Corchorus olitorius would benefit in the creation of strategies for the production and availability of the leafy vegetable crop in the South – South region in order to improve lives in the face of climate change.