Growth, productivity, and utilization of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.): A promising fiber and fuel crop for Iowa

..... ........................................................................................................ 127 Introduction........................................................................................................... 129 Material and Methods........................................................................................... 134 Results and Discussion......................................................................................... 137 Conclusion.... ....................................................................................................... 153 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................... 154 References... ........................................................................................................ 167 CHAPTER 5 KENAF PRODUCTIVITY AND MORPHOLOGY, WHEN GROWN IN IOWA AND IN KENTUCKY .............................................................. 173 Abstract...... ........................................................................................................ 173 Introduction........................................................................................................... 175 Material and Methods........................................................................................... 178 Results and Discussion......................................................................................... 183 Conclusion.... ....................................................................................................... 197 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................... 198 References... ........................................................................................................ 213 CHAPTER 6 A MODEL FOR EVALUATING PRODUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF KENAF IN ROTATION WITH OTHER CROPS ............................................................................................. 217 Abstract...... ........................................................................................................ 217 Introduction........................................................................................................... 219 Material and Methods........................................................................................... 221 Results........ ........................................................................................................ 227 Discussion..... ...................................................................................................... 230 Conclusion.... ....................................................................................................... 236 References... ........................................................................................................ 247 CHAPTER 7 GENERAL CONCLUSIONS .......................................................... 253 APPENDIX A RESULTS OF STATISTICAL ANALYSIS PERFORMED ON PYROLYSIS PRODUCTS FROM THE 5 VARIETIES OF KENAF GROWN AT BOONE, IA IN 2004 AND 2005 AND SEPARATED INTO BAST AND CORE .. 258 APPENDIX B MONTHLY CUMULATIVE PRECIPITATION AND AVERAGE AIR TEMPERATURE IN 2014 AND 2015, IN BOONE COUNTY, IOWA........... 259 APPENDIX C SOIL ANALYSES BEFORE AND AFTER GROWING KENAF IN BOTH 2014 AND 2015............. ....................................................................... 260 APPENDIX D RESULTS OF THE ANOVA WITH REPEATED MEASURES PERFORMED ON STEM HEIGHT, BASAL DIAMETER, AND LEAF AREA INDEX..................................................................................................................... 261