TITLE:
Growth, Development and Yield of Kenaf as Affected by Planting Dates and N Fertilization
AUTHORS:
Julius Yirzagla, Peter Quandahor, Iddrisu Yahaya, Olivia Aguriboba Akanbelum, Listowell Aditwin Akologo, John Bokaligidi Lambon, Abdul-Wahab M. Imoro, Kwadwo Gyasi Santo
KEYWORDS:
Growth, Fibres, Bast Yield, Core Yield
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.14 No.3,
March
27,
2024
ABSTRACT: Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L) consists of various beneficial components
like stalks, seeds, leaves, fibers, oils, proteins, allelopathic chemicals, and
fiber strands, among other things. Despite the numerous uses of the crop, there
is little or no information on optimum agronomic practices such as planting
date and N fertilization of the crop in the Upper East Region (UER) of Ghana
where the crop is widely cultivated by smallholder farmers. Field experiments
were therefore carried out in 2020 and repeated during the 2021 cropping season
in the study area. The objective of the study was to determine appropriate
planting date and N fertilization for increased kenaf productivity. In each
year, the treatments consisted of 3 × 5 factorial combinations of three
planting dates (1st July, 7th July and 14th July) and five levels of N (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 kg/ha) replicated three times.
The design of the experiment was a split-plot with the N fertilizer as the main
plot and the planting date assigned to sub plot. The results showed that,
planting kenaf in early (1st) July or N fertilization at the rate of
60 kg/ha increased plant density, stem height, stem diameter, dry bast and core
yields in both cropping seasons.