Effect of mineral and organic fertilizers on the growth and calyx yield of roselle (<i>Hibiscus sabdariffa</i> L.)

Abstract

Yield study was carried out during the 2006 summer season in the field of Research Institute, University of Zabol at Sistan (latitude 30°54’ N and longitude 61°41’E). The goal of the study was to evaluate the reaction of roselle cultivar to different chemical fertilizers alone or in combination with organic manure. Ten fertilization treatments were used for this study (mineral fertilizer, hen manure, cattle manure, ostrich manure, mineral fertilizer plus hen manure, mineral fertilizer plus cattle manure, mineral fertilizer plus ostrich manure, hen manure plus cattle manure, hen manure plus ostrich manure and ostrich manure plus cattle manure). Rates of NPK fertilizers were 300, 200 and 200 Kg ha^-1, respectively and organic manure included cattle, hen and ostrich manures with combination of others. This study was done in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) arrangement with three replications. Application of ostrich in addition to hen manure significantly (P<0.05) increased plant height, branch number/plant, weight of dry stem and calyx yield compared with other treatments but did not show significant difference in number of pods of roselle. Calyx yield of 1.6 t/ha was significantly different (P<0.05) compared to other manure. The highest of calyx yield was obtained by using ostrich plus hen manure compared to other organic manures. Results of this study indicate that maximum calyx yield of roselle is grown when ostrich plus hen manure is used.

Keywords: Roselle, mineral and organic fertilizer, growth, calyx yield