Influence of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Sulfur on the Growth and Yield of Advanced Kenaf Breeding Line KBL-73

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in 2020 at the Jute Research Regional Station, Kishoreganj, Bangladesh, to determine the response of the advanced kenaf breeding line KBL-73 to nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S). Ten fertiliser treatments were arranged in a randomised complete block design with three replications. The treatments (kg N-P-K-S ha-1) were T1=0-0-0-0, T2=75-10-20-10, T3=75-20-30-20, T4=75-30-40-30, T5=100-10-20-10, T6=100-20-30-20, T7=100-20-40-30, T8=125-10-20-10, T9=125-20-30-20, and T10=125-30-40-30. Plant population, plant height, basal diameter, green biomass, dry biomass, fibre yield, and stick yield were assessed. Treatment effects differed across traits. T3 produced the tallest plants (358.27 cm), whereas T6 produced the greatest basal diameter (21.35 mm), green weight (3.41 kg plot-1), and dry weight (2.75 kg plot-1). The highest fibre yield (1135.7 g 9 m-2) and stick yield (1912.0 g 9 m-2) occurred under T10 (125-30-40-30 kg N-P-K-S ha-1). Compared with T1, T10 increased fibre yield by 116.6% and stick yield by 93.4%. Fibre and stick yields were strongly correlated (r = 0.93). Principal component analysis showed that the first two components explained 80.1% of the variation among treatment means, with PC1 accounting for 57.0% and PC2 for 23.2%. The results identify T10 as the strongest yield-performing treatment for KBL-73 under the reported experimental conditions, while T6 was superior for stem diameter and biomass accumulation. T10 (125-30-40-30 kg N-P-K-S ha-1) is therefore recommended for further multi-location evaluation; replicated multi-location trials and economic analysis are required before a broadly applicable fertiliser recommendation is finalised.