Effect of sowing and harvesting time on pulpable biomass yield of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 1997 and 1998 to find out ideal sowing and harvesting time on the pulpable biomass yield of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) at Regional Research Laboratory, Jorhat. Crops sown in April matured in shortest duration (184 days), producing tallest kenaf plants (3.633 m) having largest basal diameter (2.250 cm) with maximum yield of pulpable dry biomass (16.8 tonnestha). Harvesting of kenaf at 180 days maturity yielded maximum biomass (16.3 tonnestha), recording highest mean increment (2.7 tonnestha). The vegetative growth ceased at the stage of flowering (180 days) attaining maximum yield of biomass, indicating appropriate stage for harvesting the crop.