INTERNATİONAL JOURNAL OF AGRİCULTURE & BİOLOGY

ISSN Print: 1560–8530; ISSN Online: 1814–9596

09–375/SBC/2010/12–3–369–372
http://www.fspublishers.org

Full Length Article

Impact of Different Nitrogen and Potassium Application on

Yield and Fiber Quality of Ramie (Boehmeria nivea)
ÖZGÜR TATAR1, EMRE ILKER, FATMA AYKUT TONK, HAMDI AYGÜN AND ÖNDER ÇAYLAK
Ege University Faculty of Agriculture Department of Field Crops Bornova-Izmir, Turkey
1
Corresponding author’s e-mail: tatar.ozgur@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Nitrogen and potassium are main mineral elements affect yield and quality in fiber plant production. Experiments to determine
the effects of four nitrogen (0, 70, 140 & 210 kg/ha) and three potassium (0, 75 & 150 kg/ha) levels to fiber yield and quality
of ramie plants were conducted in a two years field experiment. Stem number, plant height and stem yield were significantly
affected by nitrogen applications. Potassium fertilization impact upon plant height and stem yield was observed, whereas stem
number was not changed. Nitrogen significantly increased dry matter formation on stem and fiber yield of plants. Fiber length,
fineness and strength were not changed appreciably by different nitrogen applications. Higher amounts of potassium
fertilization contributed fiber strength but fiber yield did not change. It was concluded that nitrogen mostly improved plant
growth and fiber yield while potassium had discernible effects on fiber quality. © 2010 Friends Science Publishers

Key Words: Ramie; Boehmeria nivea; Nitrogen; Potassium; Yield; Quality

INTRODUCTION 1990). Nitrogen and potassium fertilization were suggested

for ramie production to obtain higher yield (Cabangbang &
Ramie (Boehmeria nivea), which provides high- Zabate, 1978; Shengxian, 1998) and fiber quality
quality fiber is used to make ropes, cloth and some (Macarayan, 2005). Zheng (1999) stated that balancing
industrial materials. Generally ramie is grown in China and nitrogen and phosphorus with adequate potassium improve
some other Asian Countries including the Philippines and length, strength and fineness of fiber in both cotton and
India (Liu et al., 2001). Although ramie can adapt most of ramie. However, Bennet et al. (1965) reported negative
the tropics and subtropics regions, it is only grown in few correlation between level of potassium application and fiber
countries. The fiber obtained from ramie is known as one of quality of cotton. Mineral influences have been well
the strongest vegetable fiber (Singh, 1992). Consequently, documented regarding to fiber yield and quality of cotton,
ramie fibers can increase strength, color and luster of cotton but there are few studies pointed out their effects on ramie
without compromising the flexibility of the fabric (Wang et and emphasized its fiber quality. In consideration of the
al., 2007). Although the fiber properties of ramie has very plant part, where fiber is obtained, different interactions may
similar with linen’s, the process of dying and cutting is be expected between mineral fertilization and fiber yield
easier. Strong fibers can be obtained also from hemp plant. and quality in ramie since its stem based fiber formation.
However, cultivation of hemp is limited and under Response of generative and vegetative organelle of plants to
controlled since illegal drug production. Therefore, ramie mineral elements change. Therefore, fiber yield and quality
has a great potential because of its fiber properties, as a result of generative and vegetative growth are expected
industrial advantages and widely adaptation capacity. to change differentially in cotton and ramie.
Nitrogen and potassium are primary nutrients for plant The main objective of this study was therefore, to
growth since they are involved in main biochemical determine response of ramie to different amount of nitrogen
processes. Beside of their crucial effects on plant growth and potassium fertilizations in terms of plant productivity,
and yield formation, feature and quality of final products are fiber quality and their interactions.
mostly affected. Mineral content of soil and fertilization
practices in cultivation of fiber plants also affects qualitative MATERIALS AND METHODS
properties of yield. Tewolde and Fernandez (2003) reported
that length, elongation, micronaire and color characteristic Plant materials were obtained from Antalya and
of cotton fiber increased by higher rate of nitrogen Yeşilköy Agricultural Research Institute, Istanbul, Turkey.
application. Constructive effects of potassium on yield and These genetic sources were introduced from USA 40 years
fiber quality were also found in cotton (Cassman et al., ago. Field studies were conducted in the experimental fields

To cite this paper: Tatar, Ö., E. Ilker, F.A. Tonk, H. Aygün and Ö. Çaylak, 2010. Impact of different nitrogen and potassium application on yield and fiber
quality of ramie (Boehmeria nivea). Int. J. Agric. Biol., 12: 369–372
 TATAR et al. / Int. J. Agric. Biol., Vol. 12, No. 3, 2010

of Ege University Faculty of Agriculture Department of Fig. 1: Meteorological conditions in the experimental
Field Crops, Turkey, during 2004 and 2005 growing season. site during, 2004 and 2005 seasons
Meteorological data for the experimental site during these
two seasons are given in Fig. 1. The root segment (15 cm) 250 Rain

was sown on March. The plants spacing was 100 cm Mean Temp.
30

between rows and 40 cm within rows. The experiments 200

25

were designed in a split-plot design with three replications.

Temparature (C˚)
Rain (kg m)
2
150 20
Four nitrogen (0, 70, 140, 210 kg/ha) and three potassium 15
(0, 75, 150 kg/ha) levels were treated. Total potassium was 100

given as K2SO4 during young seedling stage of plants on 50

10

April. NH4NO3 was used as nitrogen source and given in 5

three times on May, July and August, respectively. These 0 0

fertilizing applications were repeated for also second year of

5
04

05

5
.04

.05
04

05
.04

05
l.0

l.0
.0

.0

p.
n.

n.
v.

v.
ar

ar
p
ay

ay
Ju

Ju
Ja

Ja
Se

Se
No

No
M

M
M

M
the experiment at the same period. Weeding and hoeing Months

were carried out manually throughout the growth period.

Irrigation was given depending on the soil water status. Ten Fig. 2: Effects of different nitrogen (0, 70, 140 & 210
plant samples were taken three times per year by the kg/ha) and potassium (0, 75 & 150 kg/ha) applications
harvesting times (June, August & October). Plant height, on stem number of plant, plant height and stem yield of
fresh and dry weights of leaf and steam were measured of ramie (Boehmeria nivea). Capital letters (A, B, C & D)
samples for each harvesting times. Cortex layer of stem of indicates significance levels (P < 0.05)
plants were separated and weighed to calculate crude fiber
yield. Pectin and other mucilaginous components were 50

K0 N0

removed by retting. Fibers obtained from this process were K75 N70
Stem number per plant
K150 N140
40

dried under sunlight and weighed. Then fiber yield was N210

determined. Fiber fineness was measured by lanameter. A 30

Pressley instrument was used for determination of fiber

strength.
20

The data collected from the experiments for each 10

C B A A

character were statistically analyzed for F test (Steel &

Torrie, 1980). Wherever, the treatment effects were 160
Plant height (cm)

observed significant at the 5% of significance, L.S.D. (least 140

significant difference) was calculated to compare treatment

effects. 120

D C B A B B A
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 100
Stem dry weight (kg/ha)

8000

Nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) are main essential

elements for most of the biological processes in a plant. 6000

Their individual effects and interactions on fiber plants were

investigated in many studies (Mullins & Burmester, 1990;
4000

Zimmermann et al., 2006; Kumar et al., 2007). Usherwood 2000

D C B A B AB A

and Segars (2001) reported that root development, dry N0 N70 N140 N210 K0 K75 K150

Nitrogen and Potassium Applications

matter production and other plant functions regulating crop
yield and quality are improved by N interactions with K. In efficiency (Gething, 1993), highest plant height (174.8 cm)
the present study, N amount impact upon stem number per obtained from highest application of K combination with
plant was significant, whereas K has not clear effect. Higher highest N dose used in the current study. Positive effects of
stem number was recorded in N14 and N21 treatments (Fig. N and K fertilization on stem dry weight were found in
2). Both N and K application significantly affected the plant ramie plants (Fig. 2). Highest stem dry weight (7.3 ton/ha)
height. Plant height markedly effected by both nitrogen and recorded in treatments where 210 and 150 kg ha-1 of N and
potassium applications. Higher amount of N and K K were applied. Since stem is most important plant part in
fertilization (N210 & K150 kg ha-1) caused highest increase ramie for fiber production, partitioning of dry matter to stem
in plant height (Fig. 2). It is well established that N as a result of different fertilization application needs to be
improves plant height as a component of vegetative growth emphasized. Our results show that highest N application
in many crop plants (Alam et al., 2002; Iqbal et al., 2007). caused greatest dry matter production in stem. However,
However, Webber (1996) reported that N has no effect on detailed investigations needs to be done, whether increment
plant height in Kenaf plant. Since K contributes in N use in stem dry matter can be obtained by higher amount of N

370
 YİELD AND FİBER QUALİTY OF RAMİE / Int. J. Agric. Biol., Vol. 12, No. 3, 2010

Table I: Effects of different nitrogen (0, 70, 140 & 210 kg/ha) and potassium (0, 75 & 150 kg/ha) applications on
fiber yield and quality of ramie (Boehmeria nivea)
Crude fiber yield (kg/ha) Fiber yield (kg/ha) Fiber length (mm) Fiber fineness (micron) Fiber strength (pressley)
K0 889 637 63.7 39.9 194.2
N0 K75 891 892 d 632 639 d 59.8 62.3 42.6 41.5 198.1 198.3
K150 896 639 63.3 41.9 202.5
K0 1674 1185 64.0 42.5 196.0
N70 K75 1653 1664 c 1162 1176 c 67.6 64.8 40.8 42.0 197.9 197.9
K150 1664 1181 62.9 42.6 199.7
K0 1964 1387 66.1 41.9 194.7
N140 K75 2021 2000 b 1412 1406 b 65.2 65.7 43.0 42.1 200.2 199.2
K150 2015 1419 65.8 41.4 202.7
K0 2166 1513 65.3 41.8 195.6
N210 K75 2180 2187 a 1533 1519 a 66.1 65.2 41.9 41.6 199.4 198.6
K150 2207 1511 64.3 41.2 200.8
K0 1673 1181 64.8 41.5 195.1 b
Mean K75 1688 1185 64.7 42.1 198.9 a
K150 1695 1187 64.1 41.8 201.4 a
MSE: 3343.9 MSE: 1058.9 MSE: 21.381 MSE: 11.713 MSE: 8.382
LSD N: 133.25 N: 96.75 K: 3.427
MSE= Mean Squire Error
than 210 kg ha-1 treatment. Stem dry weight did not after each harvest (three times in a year) on fiber quality of
appreciably differ by K75 and K150 (Fig. 2). Therefore, ramie plant as well. This conclusion implies effects of N
K7.5 treatment can be suggested as K fertilization with the fertilization on quality may also change by application time.
highest amount of N application to obtain higher stem dry The present study outlined specific effects of N and K
matter. fertilization on yield and fiber quality of ramie. Our findings
Crude fiber yield of plants increased with higher N tend to demonstrate that plant growth, dry matter formation
applications (Table I). Highest amount (2187 kg/ha) in stem and fiber yield mostly affected by N, whereas higher
recorded in N210 treatment. However, different levels of K amount of K contribute to fiber strength and quality. Further
fertilization did not affect crude fiber yield. Significant investigations are thus still required to understand response
differences were also found in fiber yield of plants between of ramie to mineral fertilization.
N treatments, whereas K has no effect (Table I). Acknowledgements: The authors express many thanks to
Concomitant increase was observed in stem yield (Fig. 2) Ege University, Izmir, Turkey for the financial support to
and fiber formation (Table I) in plant by successive this study.
application of N. However, K improved stem yield, while it
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