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Title: KENAF PRODUCTION: STRENGTH IN DIVERSITY

Author
item BHARDWAJ, H.J. - VIRGINIA STTE UNIVERSITY
item Webber Iii, Charles

Submitted to: New Crops National Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/15/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Intensive production research on kenaf, especially in the last decade, has created a strong and diverse storehouse of knowledge, understanding, and experience in kenaf production which serves as a vast reservoir for critical, timely information for producers, processors, and consumers. A crop that sixty years ago was only entertained as a cordage crop, and then more recently as only a pulp crop, now has many diverse commercial applications for development. The purpose of this project was to review and summarize the diverse production research recently conducted to provide a unified location for accessing the information and references. Recent kenaf production research has crossed the entire spectrum from genetic and seed development to harvest aids and wind erosion prevention of an established crop. Cultural practices evaluated have included such items as cultivars, seed treatments, herbicides, row spacings, plant populations, irrigation, fertility, rotations, ratooning, and harvest dates. The diversity of production research provides ample opportunity to apply specific production practices not only to differing geographically areas, but also in adapting production practices to equipment availability, to existing cropping systems, and to unique market applications. Commercial interest in kenaf continues to grow, as does the need to provide current information on the useful application of recent kenaf production research.