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GENERAL
Common Name : Roselle
Scientific Name : Hibiscus ssabdariffa L.
Family : Malvaceae
Origin
The origin is not fully known but it is believed to be originated from West Africa. There was also thought that roselle was
originated from India.
Main Areas
In Malaysia most of the roselle is being planted commercially by the smallholder in Terengganu on the Bris soils. The planting
has later expanded to some part of Johor in the Peninsula Malaysia.
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Characteristics
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Average Size
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Plant height
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205.3 cm
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No. of 10 branches
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17.6
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No. of 20 branches
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10.2
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No. fruits/tree
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152
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Wt. of fresh fruit/tree
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1,793 gm (19,926 kg/ha)
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Wt. of fresh calyx/tree
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1,000 gm (11,115 kg/ha)
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Wt. of dry calyx/tree
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118 gm (1,307 kg/ha)
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No. of fresh fruit/kg
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84.8
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No. of fresh calyx/kg
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152
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Wt. of calyx/wt. of fresh fruit
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56.8%
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Fresh to dry ratio
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11.8%
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VARIETIES/CLONES
Roselle planted commercially in Terengganu was produced through selection. So far there is no clonal materials used in the
planting of roselle.
CROP REQUIREMENTS
Soils
Roselle can grow well both in Mineral Soils as well as in Bris. Planting of roselle in Bris Soils require a good water suply
through irrigation and fertilization
CULTURAL PRACTICES
Planting Materials
Presently planting is done using germinated seedlings. The seeds are sown in appropriate container. Germinated seedlings are
ready to be transplanted at the age of 10 -15 days after sowing.
Establishment
Roselle is planted on bed at 60 cm (Bris Soils) - 90 cm apart (Mineral Soils). This will give a density of 7,400 plants/hectare
on Mineral Soils and 11,100 plants/hectare on Bris Soils.
Fertilization
Planting of roselle in the Bris Soils requires the application of organic fertilizer as chicken dung at the rate of 10 metric
ton/hectare compared to 2.5 metric ton/hectare on Mineral Soils. The chicken dung is incorporated into the soil at 20 cm depth.
Aside from the organic fertilizer, compound fertilizer as NPK 15:15:15 is applied during the first 50 days after planting
followed by NPK 12:12:17:2. Fertilizer is applied at 10 - 14 days intervals.
Water Management
In field drainage should be constructed in order to irrigate the area and to keep the water table at least 60 cm from the
surface. Additional water supply through sprinkler systems should be applied.
PEST CONTROL
Diseases
Common fungal diseases of roselle are Leaf Rot (Coniella musaiaensis var. Hibisci, and Stem Rot. The incident is quite severe
during raining season. Chemical control by spraying with Carbendazim at 0.05 a.i. is recommended. At the same time avoid planting
during raining season.
Insects
Common insects pest in roselle are green hopper and aphids (Podogrica gemelle, Phyllotreta spp.). These insects pest will
suck on the plant juice and later caused the plant to be retarded. Mealybugs will caused the stem to be retarded while the
leaves become crumpled. Control can be done with Deltamethrin, Fenvalerate or Carbaryl.
Weeds
Weed control is very important at the ealy stage of planting. Weeds around the plants is control manually whereas weeds found
in between the bed is control with chemicals as Ammonium glufosinate
MATURITY AND HARVEST
Maturity
Roselle fruits reached its maturity and ready for harvesting at 20 - 30 day after flower blooming. On ratoon crop harvesting
can start at 75 -90 days from the date of prunning.
Yields
Harvesting of roselle fruits should be done at 7 - 10 days intervals for a period of 50 - 60 days. Yield for the main crops
is about 12 ton metric per hectare. The ratoon crops will be harvested at 75 - 90 days after prunning and the yield is the
same as the main crops.
Harvesting
Harvesting of roselle can start at 85 - 100 days after sowing on the main crop and 75 - 90 days after prunning on the ratoon
crops. Harvesting is done manually by cutting the fruits singly. A secateur is used to cut the fruits.
POST HARVEST HANDLING AND STORAGE
Post Harvest Handling
Roselle fruits should be process within two days. Here the capsule is remove leaving only the calyx.
Processing
Calyx from roselle fruits is later process to make roselle juice, jam and jelly.
ECONOMICS
Cost of production for first and ratoon crop roselle planted on Bris Soils is RM 14,410.00/hectare (for a period of 9 - 10
months). The net income based on the farm price of RM 0.70/kg is RM 2,390.00. The cost of production includes all the expenses
as rent, seeds, fertilizer, chemicals and labor cost. The net income if operated by family labor is RM 10,182.00/hectare.
Cost of production when grown on Mineral Soils is RM 6,339.00/hectare (for a period of 6 months) and the net income is RM
2,061.00/hectare. Family operated farm will received a net income of RM 6,098.00/hectare.
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