Effect of Plant Spacing on the Productivity of Roselle ( Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) Grown in Newly Reclamed Land

Plant spacing study has been conducted on two types of Roselle, namely Hibiscus sabdariffa var. Masri , and H. sabdariffa var. Sudani. The two types are traditionally used to be cultivated in Egypt in loamy rich soils at a distance of 60 to 70 cm between hills. In the present experiment, however, they were cultivated in a newly reclamed desert land. The spacing treatments were 30, 50 and 70 cm between hills. The results revealed that the wider spacing (70 cm) resulted in shorter plants with more branches and higher number of fruits per plant. However, the narrower spacing (30 cm) gave higher weight of fruits, fresh sepals and accordingly, higher yields of dry sepals, anthocyanins and acids compared with the treatment of 70 cm. The best results concerning the yield of sepals and active constituents per unit area were gained when Roselle plants were planted at 50 cm spacing. The spacing treatments did not affect the content of anthocyanins or total acidity as a percentage.