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Title: EFFECTS OF SPACING AND FERTILIZERS ON KENAF IN VIRGINIA

Author
item BHARDWAJ, HARBAN - VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY
item RANGAPPA, M - VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY
item Webber Iii, Charles

Submitted to: Kenaf Association International Conference Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Two experiments were conducted at Petersburg, Virginia during 1995 to determine effects of differing row spacings (30, 60, 90, and 120 cm between rows) and four rates (50, 100, 150, and 200 kg/ha) each of nitrogen, phosphate, and potash. In the row spacing experiment, a broad leaf and a narrow leaf variety (Everglades 41 and Everglades 71, respectively) were planted on May 22, 1995 in three row plots in three replications of a split-plot design with varieties in main plots and row spacings in sub- plots. In the fertilizer experiment, a split-plot design was used with nitrogen in main-plots, phosphate in sub-plots, and potash in sub-sub- plots. Each plot, consisting of three rows with 75 cm spacing between rows, was planted with Everglades 41 variety on May 23, 1995. The highest dry matter yield of 11.7 MT/ha was obtained with a row spacing of 30 cm. The dry matter yields from row spacings of 60, 90, 120 cm were 6.9, 8.6, and 8.4 MT/ha, respectively. The differences among dry matter yields of the four row spacings were not statistically significant when averaged across varieties and fertilizer rates. These results, from one year's data, indicate that kenaf plant is capable of adjusting to available space. The kenaf response to fertilizer rates was significant only for nitrogen. The highest yield of 11.7 MT/ha resulted from 50 kg nitrogen per hectare which was not different than yield following 100 kg nitrogen per hectare (11.5 MT/ha). Since the basic nitrogen level in the experimental area is 14 kg/ha, these results from one year's research indicate that kenaf needs 50 to 100 kg nitrogen/ha.