EFFECTS OF NITROGEN, PERIOD OF WEED INTERFERENCE AND HERBICIDES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF KENAF (Hibiscus caimahinus L.) IN THE NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA OF NIGERIA

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EFFECTS OF NITROGEN, PERIOD OF WEED INTERFERENCE AND HERBICIDES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF KENAF (Hibiscus caimahinus L.) IN THE NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA OF NIGERIA

Abstract:

Field experimenfewere conducted during the 1993 to 1995 wet seasons to study the effects of period of weed interference and herbicides on the yield performance of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) grown under varying N levels at the Institute for Agricultura Research, Samaru (11° ll’N; 07° 38’E). The results showed that N application significantly increased wood, fibre and seed yields of kenaf. This was as a result of the increase in growth parameters, viz crop vigour score, plant height and butt diameter. Nitrogen fertilizer application also caused early flowering in kenaf. Application of 90 kg N/ha at 12 WAS in 1994 and 45 and 90 kg N/ha at 9 WAS in 1995 in the weed control trials caused singificant reduction of weed cover score in the crop. a Initial weed infestation for 6 WAS and beyond depressed crop growth and yields compared to the weed-free control. The growth and yields of the crop kept weed-free for 6 WAS and beyond were however comparable to the maximum in the trial and the weedfree control. The critical period of weed competition in kenaf was between 3 and 6 WAS. Metolachlor and alachlor each at 1.50 kg and the mixtures with ametryne at 1.0 + 1.0 kg consistently depressed weed cover score. Similar results were obtained by fusilade at 0.75 kg and its mixture with ametryne at 0.50 + 1.0 kg, although the treatments were fairly phytotoxic to the crop. The weed control treatments with exception of metolachlor in 1995 and fusilade in 1994 and 1995 resulted in greater crop vigour score than the weedy check at 6-12 WAS in 1993 and 1995 and 9-12 WAS in 1994. Alachlor and its mixture with ametryne increased wood yield over the weedy check and was comparable to hoev weeding at 3 and 6 WAS in 1995. A similar result on ribbon yield was obtained by the mixture with fusilade in 1993. Alachlor and mixtures containing metolaehlor and alachlor increased fibre yield in 1995. Alachlor + ametryne and fluazifop-butyl (fusilade) in 1993, mixture with alachlor and metolaehlor alone in 1994 and fusilade + ametryne in 1995 increased the number of capsules per plant. Weed infestation throughout the crop growth cycle caused 28.2% to 53.0% wood yield, 26.5% to 55.3% fibre yield and 21.9% to 63.8% seed yield reductions compared to the highest yields obtained in 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively. Seed and fibre weights per plant were positively correlated with crop vigour score, plant height, butt diameter and number of capsules per plant. Seed weight was positively correlated with 100-seed weight. Seed and fibre yields were however, negatively correlated with the number of days to first flowering, weed cover score and weed dry weight. Wood yield was a major contributor to fibre yield, while butt diameter was a major contributor to seed yield.

EFFECTS OF NITROGEN, PERIOD OF WEED INTERFERENCE AND HERBICIDES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF KENAF (Hibiscus caimahinus L.) IN THE NORTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA OF NIGERIA

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