Abstract
Kenaf(Hibiscus cannabinus L.) cultivar, Tainung 2, had been grown for 152 days at the experimental farm of Jinju National University, Gajoa-dong, Jinju-si, Kyongnam, Korea. The planting, growth rate, fertilization and structural characteristics as well as the cultivation and growth characteristics of kenaf, and the product usage were investigated. The narrowest diameter at kenaf bottom was 10 mm, the widest 42 mm and the average about 28 mm, and the shortest height 150 cm, the tallest 480 cm and the average about 350 cm. The weight of a core fraction was 68.1% and a bast fraction 31.9%. The weight ratio of core material to bast fiber was 2.31. The weight ratio of dry stem was 73.5% and that of leaves 26.5%. The weight of dry plant produced in 1 $m^2$ was 1,467 g, and about 1,052 g of stem could be used for the commercial purpose, The application of fertilizers resulted in the increase of the growth rate of the diameter at plant bottom and the height. Bast fiber, phloem ray and cortex parenchyma cell were observed in bast, and vessel, wood fiber and ray in core.