Abstract
Farmers’ interest in renewable raw materials such as hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) fibres has recently increased, but hemp productivity is strongly affected by genotype and environment conditions. A 3-year field experiment was conducted under Mediterranean environment in northern Greece to evaluate the productivity (regarding fibres and seeds) of six monoecious hemp varieties. The vars. Futura 75 and Bialobrzeskie provided the greatest (p < 0.01) fibre productivity (4.57 and 4.27 t ha−1, respectively), which were 77.1% and 65.5%, respectively, greater than that of the least productive var. Fedora 17. However, the vars. Santhica 27, Tygra and Bialobrzeskie provided the highest (p < 0.05) seed yield (2.7, 2.9 and 2.6 t ha−1, respectively), which were 28.6%, 38.1% and 23.8%, respectively, greater than that of the least productive var. Futura 75. Hemp fibre yield was strongly positively correlated with total biomass (R2 = 0.8612) and stem biomass yield (R2 = 0.9742), while it was inversely correlated with fibre strength (R2 = 0.424). Hemp seed yield was not correlated with the hemp plant density, height, total biomass or stem biomass yield. The six hemp genotypes evaluated in the study had Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content lower than 0.2% satisfying the European legislation requirements for industrial hemp varieties. The results of the study indicated that, under Mediterranean conditions (northern Greece), the var. Bialobrzeskie showed high productivity, as averaged across years, for both fibres and seeds. This result is very helpful for farmers which should prefer hemp varieties of dual-purpose production (stems and inflorescences or stems and seeds) adapted best to their local environment.
Highlights
Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) belongs to the oldest and most known versatile plants
The conducted analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the plant density, height and main stem diameter in most cases were affected by year (p < 0.001), hemp variety (p < 0.001) and their interaction (p < 0.001)
Hemp fibre yield was strongly positively correlated with total biomass and stem yield (Figure 5a,b), while it was negatively correlated with fibre strength (Figure 5h)
Summary
Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) belongs to the oldest and most known versatile plants. It was cultivated all over the world, due to its fast growth and low-demand in resources, until its ban in the 1930s [1]. Demand for renewable raw materials has recently increased and hemp cultivation has returned as a sustainable and high yielding crop that can be grown for a multitude of products and industrial applications [2,3]. Industrial hemp varieties (cultivated for stem fibres and seeds) registered in the European Catalogue have to contain less than 0.2% ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) according to EC regulation 809/2014 [5]. Weather conditions in southern Europe are favourable for hemp growth there is little background knowledge regarding the productivity of the recently registered varieties [3] due to the interruption of hemp production in the second half of the last century
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
