1999 Annual Report for FNC99-280
Kenaf: Ag Fiber of the Future?
Summary
Common dryland crops, such as wheat, sorghum and fallow, are unable to keep small family farmers afloat financially. Southwest Kansas producers must search for alternative crops for their rotations.
Kenaf is a versatile fiber crop that is used for board, cloth and paper products, as well as a component of livestock feed.
Objectives: 1) To determine the most efficient, profitable method of raising Kenaf by testing different seeding rates and row widths and 2) to address the best method of harvest and storage.
The producer planted and harvested several small, replicated plots.
Results: Each plant varied in height from four to eight feet tall, depending on the moisture received in each plot. Overall, drought lessened the yields.
The fiber-board plant refused to process the Kenaf, and the producer was unable to process the Kenaf into quality livestock feed.