Kenaf Forage Yield and Quality as Affected by Population Density

Abstract

Population density can affect kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) forage morphology, yield, and nutritive value. The impact of plant population density on dry matter (DM) yield, DM partitioning in aerial organs, and forage quality parameters such as crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was determined. This study was conducted in Matamoros, Coahuila, Mexico, in the summers (June–September) of 2005 and 2006. Kenaf response to six plant population densities, ranging from 160,000 to 1,860,000 plants ha−1, was determined using a randomized complete block design with four replications. Regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between plant density and parameters measured. Response of DM yield to population density was quadratic with maximum production (7078–7469 kg ha−1) between 920,000 and 1,245,000 plants ha−1 Dry matter yields per plant, number of nodes, and stem diameter declined as population density increased in a quadratic fashion, primarily between 160,000 and 840,000 plants ha−1 Dry matter partitioning into aerial organs and nutritive value were not affected by plant population. To reduce lodging susceptibility due to overly slender stems and to achieve about 95% of maximum yield, the proper population range for kenaf forage harvested at 89 d after sowing would appear to be 343,500 to 637,000 plants ha−1

Effect of plant spacing on pigeonpea grain yield in Northern Uganda

“…Plant height was not affected by plant density. Similar observations have been reported for Hibiscus cannabinus L. (Reta-sánchez et al, 2010) and pigeonpea. This observation is contrary to what was reported by Singh et al 2014, where narrow plant spacing, increased the plant height of Petunia as a result of the competition for light (Drummond et al, 2015) and improved water use efficiency (Zhou et al, 2010).…”

Location and plant spacing affect biomass yield and nutritional value of pigeon pea forage

“…Similarly, the relationship between plant spacing and plant height varied among previous findings. Plant height was reportedly not affected by plant density in Hibiscus cannabinus L. (Reta‐sánchez et al., 2010) and pigeon pea (S. Singh et al., 2014). In narrow plant spacing, as the number of plants increased, the plant height of Petunia × hybrida Vilm.…”