EFFECT OF NITROGEN ON THE GROWTH AND(HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA LIN) AT BAGAUDA IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA.ROSE D CALYX YIELD OF NIGERIA

Field experiments were conducted at the National Horticultural Research Institute(NIHORT),Bagauda, Kano State to test the responses of two cultivars or roselle namely Deep Red and Pale Green to five rates of Nitrogen: 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120kg Nha-1, the 2 x 5 factorial experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications over two growing seasons 1999 and 2000. Data collected on plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, pod, stem girth (cm), leaf area index, calyx and seed yields were analyzed using Analyzing of variance (ANOVA). The results for two years followed almost the same trend for all the measured plant characters. Irrespective of the fertilizer level, Deep Red variety performed significantly better in almost all the plant characters studied. While optimum vegetative and reproductive characters of roselle was obtained when 60kg N/ha was applied, the Deep Red variety gave higher fresh and dry calyx as well as dry seed yield than the pale Green variety.