Influence of Variety and Plant Spacing on Yield and Yield Attributes of Roselle Hibiscus sabdariffa L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to assess the influence of variety and plant spacing
on yield and yield attributes of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) in 2014/2015 cropping
season at Wondo Genet Agricultural Research Center experimental site (at Wondo
Genet station). Six levels of plant spacing (60 x 30 cm, 60 x 60 cm, 60 x 90 cm, 90 x 30
cm, 90 x 60 cm and 90 x 90 cm) were evaluated using two varieties (WG-Hibiscus-
Jamaica and WG-Hibiscus-Sudan) on a plot size of 15.12 m² (3.6 m length x 4.2 m
width). The experimental design was a randomized complete block design in factorial
arrangement with 12 treatments in three replications. SAS (version 9) software was
used to compute the analysis of variance. The results revealed that varieties differed
markedly in most of the studied parameters. Of the two varieties tested, variety WG
Hibiscus-Jamaican showed superior number of capsules/plant, fresh calyx yield/plant,
dry calyx yield/plant, seed yield/plant, total number of capsules/ha, total fresh calyx
yield/ha, total dry calyx yield/ha and total seed yield/ha. In contrast, variety WG
Hibiscus-Sudan had heavier 1000 seed weight than variety WG
of the studied parameters except 1000 seed weight were significantly influenced by
plant spacing. Moreover, number of capsules/plant, fresh and dry calyx yield/plant and
seed yield/plant were significantly influenced by interaction of variety and plant spacing.