Effect of sugarcane scum and ashes of <i>Chromolena odorata</i> L. on the aptitude of <i>Hibiscus sabdariffa</i> L. production

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to develop an intensive cropping system for the Hibiscus sabdariffa L, reachable to all farmers in rural and peri-urban areas in Gabon. The ashes of Chromolaena odorata used alone or in combination with the sugarcane scums amended to ferralitic soil from Imperata cylindrica rich savannahs to evaluate their effects on H. Sabdariffa growth performance and leaf yields. Soils were mixed with different amounts of ash of Chromolaena odorata (30, 40 and 50 g/m²) and sugarcane scum (1.5; 2.0 and 2.5 kg/m²) and transferred to polythene pots. Our results showed that the fertilization significantly influences the growth in diameter and height of the stem and the leaf yields of H. sabdariffa. The best growth were obtained with the of 50 kg/m² of ash of Chromolaena odorata and 2.5 kg/m² of sugar cane scum, where the average stem diameter and average stem height were respectively 6.50 ± 0.40 mm and 42.07 ± 3.12 cm. The optimum leaf yield (9.87 ± 0.41 t/ha) was also obtained with this combination. Use of these fertilizers could improve the yields of Hibiscus sabdariffa, to obtain surplus production for salet o obtain surplus production for sale

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Keywords:  Hibiscus sabdariffa L., ash Chromolaeana odorata, sugarcane scum, ferralitic soil