Preliminary experiments on the growth of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) for paper pulp production in the Ord Irrigation Area, Western Australia

Abstract

The results of agronomic studies with kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) grown for paper pulp production in the Ord Irrigation Area, Western Australia, are described. There were two experiments: one with cv. C2032 in which growth of the crop was studied at four seeding rates, two row spacings and four times of sowing, and a second in which the growth of cv. Guatemala -4 was followed at two times of sowing. It was demonstrated that year-round growth could be sustained with irrigation. A peak dry-matter yield of 25.6 tonnes ha-1 was achieved after 240 days from a July sowing of Guatemala -4. The yields of stem material from cv. C2032 increased as seeding rate was increased from 5 to 20 kg ha-1. Dry matter yields were higher with a narrow row spacing than with a wide row spacing; total dry matter production from crops sown on 1.5 m beds grown with 5 rows spaced 20 cm apart was 17 per cent higher than from single rows sown on 1 m ridges. The effect of row spacing was mainly in the yield of tops and foliage and there was no significant effect on stem yields. Data are given of the uptake of essential nutrients by kenaf crops. which illustrate the large quantities of nutrients removed by the crop. Ratooning of kenaf is shown to be possible provided it is cut at least 10 cm above ground level. The percentage of plants recovering after cutting increased as the height of cut was increased from 10 cm to 30 cm above ground level.