%0 Journal Article
%T Performance of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L) as Influenced by Irrigation Schedules
%A F.E. Babatunde
%A A.L.E. Mofoke
%J Pakistan Journal of Nutrition
%D 2006
%I 
%X Global outcry for food security necessitates both rain fed and irrigation farming to boost up world food production. This research therefore explored the possibility of growing roselle (Hibiscus sabdarriffa. L) under irrigation. The experimental treatments comprised five irrigation schedules with irrigation intervals (f) of 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 days. The corresponding gross water requirements (GWR) were 37, 56, 74, 93, and 112mm. The crops were grown under check basin irrigation during the 2001/2002 and 2002/2003 irrigation seasons in Bauchi state, Nigeria. Results showed that difference in number of leaves per plant was significant (p = 0.05) with the fifth irrigation schedule (f = 11 days, GWR = 112mm) giving the highest value of 347 leaves per plant, while the first irrigation schedule (f = 3 days, GWR = 37mm) resulted in only 192 leaves per plant. Variations in plant height, number of branches per plant and canopy diameter were insignificant (p = 0.05). The influence of irrigation schedule on the yield of roselle measured with respect to fresh calyx weight was highly significant with a strong coefficient of determination of 97.1%. Yield soared with increase in seasonal irrigation depth. The increase followed a second degree polynomial, reaching a projected maximum of about 682 Kg/ha. The associated maximum seasonal application depth was found to be approximately 3389 mm. Results of this study indicate that maximum yield of roselle grown under irrigation could be attained with a weekly irrigation interval and a gross application depth of 188 mm.
%K Roselle
%K maximum
%K yield
%K irrigation
%U http://docsdrive.com/pdfs/ansinet/pjn/2006/363-367.pdf