Impact of Intact and Powdered Leaf Amendments from Forestry Species on Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) Germination and Growth

Soil is the primary source of nutrients for plants, mainly through the clay–humus complex derived from mineral components and decomposed organic matter. The decomposition of the litter—composed only of leaves—contributes significantly to the nutrient cycle. This study evaluated the effects of the intact leaves and the leaf powder resulting from three agroforestry species: Daniellia oliveri (DO), Terminalia macroptera (TM), and Piliostigma thonningii (PT) on the germination and growth of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.). The experiment was conducted under pot conditions using 10, 20, and 30 g doses of intact or powdered litter. Germination rate was measured over a period of 16 days, and plant height, number of leaves, and collar diameter were measured over a 90-day period. According to the results, all litter treatments maintained germination rates above 50%, indicating the absence of phytotoxic effects. Germination was significantly affected by litter treatment under both intact litter and powdered litter applications (p < 0.001). Several leaf powder mixtures achieved 100% germination at 16 days, particularly the combinations DO + TM at 30 g, DO + PT at 20 g, TM + PT at 30 g, and DO + TM + PT at 10 and 30 g. Intact leaves amendments promoted significantly greater vegetative growth than powders. Mean plant height was higher under intact leaves (18.04 cm) than powders (14.36 cm; p < 0.001). Daniellia oliveri produced the greatest plant height (23.33 cm at 20 g), whereas the three-species powder mixture resulted in the lowest values (9.50–10.23 cm at 90 days). Collar diameter was not significantly affected by treatment type. Overall, intact leaf litter was more effective than powders in promoting okra vegetative growth.