Efficiency of BJRI Kenaf-4 Yield Under Different Fertilizer Levels

The present study was conducted to clarify the fertilizer requirement on the growth and yield of the variety Bangladesh Jute Research Institute Kenaf-4. Consequently the experiment was conducted in Jute Agriculture Experimental Station, Manikganj and Jute Research Regional Station, Kishoreganj of Bangladesh Jute Research Institute. The results indicated significant effect of different NPKS levels on Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) Kenaf-4 yield and yield contributing characters over control. The highest fibre (3.14t/ha) and stick (7.65t/ha) yield were obtained by the combination dose of N100 Kg/ha with PKS 10-60-20 kg/ha at Kishoreganj. The plant height (3.14m), base diameter (19.47mm) also found highest with the same fertilizer treatment combination. By the same treatment produced higher fibre yield and yield contributing characters at Manikganj though that yield was slightly lower than Kishoreganj. Economic analysis suggested the best combination is N100P10K60S20 kg/ha. The findings of the present experiment clearly indicated a great prospect of nutrient combination of N100P10K60S20 kg/ha on the growth and yield of fibre production on the variety BJRI kenaf-4.


Introduction
Bangladesh Jute Research Institute is the major organization of Jute and allied fibre crops research and Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) is a promising fibre crop in Bangladesh [1,2]. It can be grown as an alternative crop of cotton that may be economically feasible to produce in Bangladesh [3]. Kenaf fiber used to make quality fine paper, as well as lower grade papers and cordage, also used to produce rope, canvas, sacking, carpet backing, fishing nets, interior automobile parts, such as door panels, headliners, animal bedding, and composite lumber substitutes [1]. Fertilizer application is necessary for high yielding Kenaf. There are many reports published on fertilizer requirement for kenaf production [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. In Bangladesh farmers are not well known of better kenaf production technology that hinders the expected production of Kenaf and fibre and seeds are grown conventionally [20]. Poor fertilizer management practices also a cause for low yield of Kenaf. Therefore, the production of quality kenaf fibre in the country is very much essential to meet the increasing demand and expand this valuable crop. Taking into account all these essentials, upgrading of fiber yield and quality of Kenaf is the prime need of Bangladesh. In this aspect, research regarding development of new high yielding variety of Kenaf and determination of its fertilizer requirement is very important. Therefore, the present study has been undertaken to observe the effects of N, P, K and S fertilizers on the growth and yield of the pre-released Kenaf variety, BJRI Kenaf-4 and to find out the finest requirement of nutrients combination to obtain highest fibre production.

Materials and Methods
The experiment was set up at the Jute Agricultue Experimental Station (JAES) of BJRI, Jagir, under Sadar Upazila of Manikganj district and Regional Station, Kishoreganj of BJRI.
The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. A total 10 treatment combinations along with a control were distributed randomly in each plot as one replication ( Table 1). The dimension of unit plots was 3 m × 3 m having 1 m space between the plots, blocks and around the field. There was 20 cm deep drain around each block and plot. Each replication was divided into 10 unit plots. At the beginning of the experiment, the land was well prepared and fertilizers were applied as per treatment. Required amounts of N, P, K, S fertilizers were applied in the form of urea, TSP, MoP and gypsum. Urea was applied in two splits: half amount was applied at sowing and the rest half was top dressed at 45 DAS (days after sowing) while all other fertilizers were applied at the time of sowing. Kenaf seeds were broadcasted at the rate of 12 kg/ha. All cultural operations were done as and when necessary. The crop was harvested when 80% of the plants showed the sign of maturity. After shedding of leaves, the bundles were steeped plot-wise in pond water for 15-20 days for retting and fiber was extracted. At harvesting time, six plants were selected at random from each plot and tagged in the field to note plant height (PH), base diameter (BD), fiber yield (FY) and stick yield (SY).

Results and Discussion
Results revealed that combined fertilizer doses focused the significant positive effect on the yield contributing parameters like plant height, base diameter, ( Table 2 & 3). The yield and yield components i.e. plant height, base diameter, yield of fibre and stick were significantly increased over control by different rates of nitrogen. The highest dose of N150 kg/ha reduced the fibre yield (3.06t/ha) in compare to N100 kg/ha (3.13t/ha) at Kishoreganj. Results showed that 100 kg N/ha is enough to produce the variety BJRI Kenaf-4. Incremental N doses enhanced the plant height and base diameter than control.
Phosphorus levels (5, 10 and 15 kg/ha) were used in the experiment. The dose of P 10 kg/ha contributed significantly highest yield of fibre (3.13t/ha) and stick (7.65t/ha) ( Table 3). In Kishoreganj, the longest plant (3.14m) found with P 10Kg/ha that was statistically identical with plant height found by P 15Kg/ha. Significantly highest base diameter (19.47mm) found also with P 10Kg/ha ( Table 3).
The rate of potassium 0 kg/ha, 30 kg/ha, 60 kg/ha and 90 kg/ha were used to conduct this experiment. In Manikganj the rate 60 kg K/ha gave the highest plant height (3.1m), base diameter (19.16mm),) fibre (3.03t/ha) and stick (6.98t/ha) in compare to 90 Kg/ha. Study noticed that the variety BJRI Kenaf-4, needs K 60 Kg/ha to produce maximum yield.
All the treated plots with Sulphur increased the different growth parameters and yield of the variety BJRI Kenaf-4 over control. The highest rate of S 30 kg/ha reduced the plant height. Maximum plant height (3.14m) observed with 20 kg S /ha. Base diameter found the highest (19.47mm) with a medium dose of S 20 kg S/ha. The yield of fibre (3.13t/ha) and stick (7.65t/ha) achieved the highest with 20 kg S/ha ( Table 3). The study showed that combined dose of NPK and S 100-10-60-20 Kg/ha was a suitable dose for the cultivation of the variety BJRI Kenaf-4.  Table 3. Results of nutrient combinations on growth and yield of the variety BJRIKenaf-4 at Regional Station Kishoreganj. Study exposed that high dose of K (60 kg/ha) caused highest plant height and base diameter (Table 3). Some studies revealed that yield; Plant height and Base diameter increased with increasing rate of K dose [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28].

Treatment (N-P-K-S kg/ha) Plant height (m) Base diameter (mm) Yield of fibre (t/ha) Yield of stick (t/ha)
Fibre yield and stick yield found significantly positive in trends of different treatments combinations for BJRI Kenaf -4 (Table 3). Highest fibre yield (3.13 t/ha) and stick yield (7.65 t/ha) were recorded with T 6 (N 100 P 10 K 60 S 20 kg/ha) treatment, which was 192.52 and 116.10% higher than control (Calculated from Table 3). Based on Fibre yield among the treatments the treatment T 6 can be ranked first and T 1 for last position. The nutrient ratio is one of the key factors for kenaf production that is partially supported by previous report [1,29].
Economic performance of a variety is a prime need for its cultivation and jute and allied fibre crops is not out of that. There are 1.2 million farmers are still directly connected with jute and allied fibre crops cultivation. Jute sector provides about 10% of total employment (production, transportation, processing and marketing) in the economy [30]. Therefore, economic analysis was made considering the variable cost of fertilizers, seeds, labor and price of fiber and stick (Table 4 & 5). Result reveals that T 6 (N 100 P 10 K 60 S 20 kg/ha) treatment was the most cost effective treatment as it gives the highest gross return with benefit cost ratio (BCR) which is highly profitable.

Conclusions
Each and every one of the treatments influenced on growth and yield. Among the treatment combination N 100 P 10 K 60 S 20 kg/ha (T 6 ) treatment performed best for the most valuable yield parameters fiber and stick yield. We found highest benefit cost ratio from economic analysis and it was originated by the nutrient combination of N 100 P 10 K 60 S 20 kg/ha. Bearing in mind all these aspects, especially yield and economics, T 6 (N 100 P 10 K 60 S 20 kg/ha) treatment seems to be the best combination for fibre production of this variety (BJRI Kenaf-4).