VARIETIES, POULTRY MANURE AND FERTILIZER INFLUENCE ON THE GROWTH AND FIBRE QUALITY OF KENAF (Hibiscus cannabinus L.)

Abstract

 Background: The quality of fibre in kenaf is variety and soil fertility dependent. Objective: The study was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria, during the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons to determine the effects of poultry manure and NPK fertilizer on soil properties and fibre quality of four varieties of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.). Methodology: The experiment was laid out as a split-split plot design and replicated four times. The main plot was the years, and the subplots were the four varieties of kenaf (Cuba-108, Ifeken-100, Ifeken-400, and Tainuug 2), and the sub-sub plot was the four rates of poultry manure (0, 5, 10, 15 t/ha) and NPK fertilizer (300 kg/ha). Data were collected on plant height, the number of leaves, stalk girth, stalk weight per net plot and per hectare, fibre weight per hectare and fibre quality (ultimate strength, fibre elongation, and fibre strain). Data were analyzed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) Genstat software package, and significant means were separated using the New Duncan Multiple Range test at a 5% probability level. Result: The 2018 sowing showed no superior growth, yield and fibre attributes compared to the 2019 sowing. Cuba-108 had the best growth, fibre yield, and quality with poultry manure at 15t/ha compared to NPK fertilizer at 300kg/ha. Implications: The variability in climatic elements during the study period was of no concern compared to soil factors which was the primary determinant of fibre quality irrespective of variety. Conclusion: The use of Cuba-108 cultivar and poultry manure at the rate of 15t/ha improved the growth and fibre quality of kenaf in this locality, thus saving foreign exchange, which could have been used in the importation of fibre.