Vegetative Growth and Calyx Yield of Four Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) Accessions as Influenced by Intra-Row Spacing

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Abstract

The effect of intra-row spacing on vegetative growth and calyx yield of four roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) accessions was determined at the experimental field of the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-SARI), Ghana, from August to November, 2016.  The split plot design was used with 3 replications. The main plot contained the four roselle accessions (‘Samadah’, ‘Dah rouge’, ‘Local’, and ‘Bissap’) while the sub-plot contained the four intra-row spacing (30 cm, 40 cm, 50 cm, and 60 cm). An inter-row spacing of 60 cm was maintained. The results showed that yield (fruit dry weight per plant, number of fruits per plant, calyx dry weight) and biomass (fresh and dry shoot weights) were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by intra-row spacing. Intra-row spacing of 50 cm resulted in highest calyx yield across the accessions. Intra-row spacing of 30 cm, 60 cm and 40 cm resulted in high leaf yields in ‘Bissap’, ‘Dah rouge’, ‘Local’ and ‘Samadah’, respectively. However, intra-row spacing had no significant effect on vegetative attributes of roselle. For calyx production, an intra-row spacing of 50 cm can be used for any of the accessions tested. However, for increased leaf yield, ‘Samadah’ and ‘Local’ which are grown for their leaves and calyx could be planted at intra-row spacing of 40 cm and 60 cm, respectively.