Ideal spacing in mesta (Hibiscus sabdariffa. L) grown for seed purpose

A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla during kharif, 2013, to find out the ideal spacing in mesta crop grown for seed purpose, with four spacing viz., 30 cm × 10 cm, 20 cm × 10 cm, 15 cm × 15 cm and 15 cm × 10 cm, growth parameters viz., the plant height, number of branches per plant yield parameters viz., number of seeds per capsule and 1000 seed weight were not altered significantly due to different spacing tried. Significantly superior values for dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate, stalk yield and number of days to reach 50 % flowering were noticed with closer spacing of 15 cm × 10 cm than the remaining tried. Significantly higher relative growth rate and more number of capsules per plant was found at a wider spacing of 30 cm × 10 cm, which was however, on a par with 15 cm ×15 cm and 20 cm × 10 cm, where as the number of capsules per plant were found statistically same with 15 cm × 15 cm. Roselle sown at a closer spacing 15 cm × 10 cm produced maximum seed yield, which was however, found parity with 20 cm × 10 cm.