INFLUENCE OF CULTIVARS, YEARS, ENVIRONMENT, AND STEM LOCATION ON KENAF FIBER PROPERTIES

Kenaf contains two distinct fiber components, the long bast fibers fro m the bark and the short core fibers from the inner portion of the ste m. Since the products that can be manufactured from kenaf as well as t he product quality are influenced by the specific fiber properties, fi eld studies were conducted in 1994 and 1995 to examine the fiber prope rties of four kenaf cultivars grown in four different environments. Th e four cultivars were Everglades 71, Tainung 2, SF459, and 7N; the fou r experimental sites were Weslaco and Overton, TX, and Dixon Spring an d Urbana, IL. Results indicated that the fiber lengths, widths, and le ngth-to-width ratios of the four cultivars were not significantly diff erent. What appeared to contribute most to differences in fiber proper ties were the years, environments, and the sources of fibers along the stem length and within the plants. Bark fibers from the middle sectio n of stems were significantly longer than those from the lower stem se ctions; however, there were no significant differences observed among core fibers along the stem length. Bast anc core fibers widths remaine d uniform throughout the entire stem. Several interactions existed bet ween cultivars, years, environments, and stem location, indicating the numbers and compounding factors that may influence fiber properties, processing, and end use.