EFFECTS OF NITROGEN AND SPACING ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF KENAF (Hibiscus Cannabinus L.) IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Field experiment was carried out to determinethe effects of nitrogen and intra-row spacing on the growth and yield of kenafat Bauchi state college of Agriculture during the 2018 and 2019 rainy seasons.The treatments consisted of four nitrogen levels (0kg/ha, 56kg/ha, 112kg/ha and 168kg/ha) and three intra row spacing (10, 20 and 30). These were factorially combined to give twelve (12) treatment combinations and laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three (3) times. Data were collected at bi-weekly interval on plant height, number of leaves, freshr and dry fiber yield. All data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was used to separate the means. The result of the experiment revealed a significant (P≤0.01) difference among the treatments used throughout the study period. The result indicated that, Application of nitrogen at the rate of 56 kg/ha significantly (P ≤0.01) produced taller plants than all other levels of nitrogen. On intra-row spacing the use 30cm had taller plants than all other treatments studied and were at par with 20cm at 6, 8, and 12 WAS. The result further revealed that, narrow-intra-row spacing (10cm × 50cm) resulted in a decrease in plant height at the beginning of the growing season, but had a significant (P≤0.00) influence at 8 and 10 weeks after sowing. The result also revealed that, wider spacing (30 × 50cm) increases plant height, stem girth, leaf area and consequently the stem and total dry fiber yield per plant. Based on the result of this study, application of nitrogen fertilizer at the rate of 56 kg/ha to kenaf spaced at 30 x 50 cm promote better growth and fiber yield in both the seasons under observation and can be adopted by farmers in the study area.