Seasonal Performance and Traits Relationship of Kenaf (Hibiscus Cannabinus L.) Cultivars Grown in Forest-Savannah Transistion Agro-Ecology

Abstract

A two-season experiment was conducted to evaluate effects of seasons on agronomic performance of some
cultivars of kenaf in a forest-savannah agro-ecology. This study also elucidated the relationship among traits of
the crop. In each season, cultivars were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three
replications. The crop was harvested for fibre and seeds. Morphological, flowering and yield data were
collected and subjected to analysis of variance separately and across seasons. Pearson's correlation analysis
was also performed across seasons to detect the associations among the crop's traits. Variation due to cultivars
existed in all the agronomic parameters except the basal stem diameter. The effect of seasons and cultivars ×
seasons were significant in plant height and basal, middle and top stem diameters only. The kenaf cultivars are
more sensitive to water supply during their vegetative stage than flowering or seed production stage. Various
levels of significant differences existed in vegetative traits which were higher under rain than irrigation.
Variation in the flowering pattern within season showed that the cultivars belong to various maturity groups.
3 4 6 6 5 Cultivars AU-2452-4 , AU-2452 , AU-6028-2 , AU-2452 , AU-2452 and V1 400 flowered late. Seed yield per
2 1 plot (5m ) varied among the cultivars with a mean of 1.6 kg. Cultivar 2QQ 17 had highest seed weight. The AU4 4 6 1 2452 , AU-754 , AU-60-282 and 2QQ 17 may be considered for building construction because of their high
core fibre yields along with other industrial attributes.