Kenaf Forage Yield as Affected by Water and Nitrogen Management. (6124)
Authors:
Y. Ghebreiyessus* - Southern Univ. Agcenter, Baton Rouge, LA V. Bachireddy - Southern Univ. Agcenter ,Baton Rouge, LA S. Gebrelul - Southern Univ. Agcenter Baton Rouge, LA
Abstract:
Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) is an annual plant that can be used as an alternative forage crop before it reaches maturity. The objective was to evaluate the response of regrowth of kenaf after an initial harvest to supplementary irrigation and nitrogen fertilization. The field experiment consisted of irrigated and non-irrigated plots, four ammonium nitrate levels and four replications. The fertilizer levels were 0, 70, 140, and 210 kg/ha at planting and 0, 35, 70, 105 kg/ha on ratooned kenaf. Kenaf was harvested at 30 cm stubble height for three consecutive years. Like alfalfa it can be cut at one meter plant height for four or more times under Louisiana climatic conditions (149 growing days and 1,472 degree heat days).
Mean fresh forage yield for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th cuttings were 6.4, 22.7, 17.4, and 15.0 mt/ha and dry matter yield was 0.96, 3.30, 2.5, and 2.2 mt/ha, respectively. First cutting yield was the lowest among the cuttings in all the years and the second cutting gave the highest yield. Kenaf yield responded positively (P less than 0.05) to irrigation in all first cuttings compared with the subsequent cuttings.
Irrigation was critical during early stage of growth in the first cutting period. Kenaf did not respond to N fertilizer except in the second and third cuttings of the second year of study, indicating that kenaf is a low input crop.
Speaker Information: Yemane Ghebreiyessus, Southern Univ. Agcenter, Baton Rouge, LA, Po. Box 11346, Baton Rouge, LA 70813; Phone: 225-771-3111 Ext. 227; E-mail: [email protected]
Session Information: Monday, November 1, 2004, 2:00 PM-4:00 PM Presentation Start: 2:00 PM (Poster Board Number: 1547) Keywords: kenaf; forage; crop; soil
