EFFECT OF SPACING AND HARVESTING STAGES ON SEED QUALITY OF JUTE MALLOW IN KENYA

Abstract

Use of high quality seeds increases crop yield. The appropriate stage of seed harvest helps to ensure maximum seed quality attributes of purity, germination and vigor. Fruit and seed maturity at harvest influences seed storage duration, germination and plant quality needed in market. Currently in Kenya there is no high quality seed of Jute mallow from breeders to farmers. This has seen farmers use re-cycled seed for planting whose potential is not assured contributing to low crop production and resultant poor quality seeds. Jute mallow yields has remained low, 2-4 tons/ha as compared to expected yield of 5-8 tons/ha. Observations from the Jute mallow growing areas showed that a seed rate of 7 kg/ha instead of 5 kg/ha is being used, which is required for a density of 250,000 plants/ha. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of spacing and harvesting stages on seed quality of Jute mallow phenotypes. Jute mallow seed accessions were planted at two sites namely: University of Eldoret (site 1) and Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Kitale (site 2). The design used was randomly complete block design, where the treatments included three spacing (20x30 cm, 30x30 cm, 40x30 cm) and seed harvesting at three maturity stages of green, tan and black pod stages with each treatment replicated three times. Data on seed purity, germination and seedling vigour was collected and analyzed as per International Seed Testing Association (2004) procedures and protocal. Results showed spacing maximized on seed quality attributes of purity at a spacing of 40 cm x 30 cm (99.8%) and lowest purity (99.5%) at a spacing of 20 cm x 30 cm by BEMS phenotype from site 2 both at Tan pod harvesting stage. On germination, the wider spacing (40 cm x 30 cm) was highest at 88.6% by GLMT phenotype at Tan pod harvesting stage from site 2. The lowest germination of 51.2% was observed with closer spacing (20 cm x 30 cm) by GEMS phenotype at black pod harvesting stage from site 1. Seed vigor was highest at 88.6% with a spacing of 40 cm x 30 cm by GLMT phenotype at Tan pod harvesting stage from site 2, while lowest vigor was 51.2% being at spacing of 20 cm x 30 cm by GEMS phenotype at black pod harvesting stage from site 1. The highest E.C. (3.5 µScm^-1g^-1) was recorded with a spacing of 20 cm x 30 cm by GLMT phenotype at site 1 and 3.1 µScm^-1g^-1 at site 2 both at black pod harvesting stage. It is concluded that production of Jute mallow for seed should adopt wide spacing and harvesting be done at tan stage for high quality seed and yield.