Potential for kenaf cultivation in south-central Arizona

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L. Malvaceae) is becoming a valuable crop for fa bricating various consumer products. No information is available on kenaf c ulture for Arizona, where it can replace existing crops that are not profit able to grow. The objectives of this study were to determine the suitabilit y of growing kenaf under water irrigation in south-central Arizona and to c ompare the yield components of kenaf cultivars. Five cultivars of kenaf ('E verglades 41','Everglades 71','Tainung # 2','SF459' and 'KK60') were plante d on 2 April 1996 at the Maricopa Agricultural Center, AZ. Cultivars were g rown for 226 days in a randomized complete block design with four replicate s. Plots received 1947 mm of irrigation water and precipitation. Data colle cted included plant population, plant height and diameter, leaf and stalk f resh weight, dry stalk weight, total dry plant yield, and bast:core fiber r atio. Statistical differences among cultivars were detected for plant popul ation, stalk dry weight and bast:core fiber. Despite having the lowest plan t population (<100000 plants/ha), cultivar KK60 had the heaviest stalk dry weight (0.312 kg/stalk) and greatest total plant yield (28.5 mt/ha/year). C ultivar SF459 had the highest bast:core ratio (0.62 g/g), and Tainung #2 an d KK60 the lowest (both 0.48 g/g). Dry stalk weight and total yield were po sitively correlated with stalk diameter. Bast:core fiber ratio was inversel y correlated with stalk height. Based on these results, we conclude that cu ltivar KK60 produces the greatest total yield under the conditions tested a nd that kenaf could be a viable crop system in south-central Arizona under irrigation. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.