Search Results (3)

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is gaining renewed interest as a sustainable source of natural fibres, particularly in regions like Belgium, where well-established flax processing infrastructure exists. However, region-specific data on varietal performance for long fibre production remain limited, hindering large scale adoption by both farmers and processors. This study aimed to assess the agronomic performance of early- and late-flowering hemp varieties under temperate maritime conditions through a three-year field trial at two sites in Flanders (Belgium). The evaluation focused on key parameters including emergence rate, plant morphology, long fibre yield and quality. Results showed that successful crop establishment is critical, as poor emergence influenced stem diameter (increasing with decreasing emergence) and leads to reduced long fibre yields by up to 50% between tested sites. Significant yield differences between trial years were present at both sites, with the biomass yield ranging from 10.7 to 14.5 and from 7.8 to 9.6 t ha⁻¹ for Bottelare and Beitem, respectively. Under favourable conditions, long fibre yields reached up to 2.4 t ha⁻¹ for late-flowering and 2.1 t ha⁻¹ for early- and mid-late-flowering varieties. In Western Europe, early to mid-late flowering varieties are generally favoured. Among these, the mid-late flowering variety Bialobrzeskie demonstrated strong yield potential. Overall, fibre quality across varieties was comparable to that of flax. Full article

Flax cultivation is influenced by geographical conditions and soil properties, affecting yield and fiber quality. This study examines the performance of two fiber flax varieties, Artemida and Hermes, in 2021–2023 in central–eastern Poland’s agroclimatic and soil conditions using a value chain approach. Field trials were conducted in soils of varying fertility under a continental climate, employing a randomized block design with four replications. Flax straw underwent dew-retting, and long fibers were extracted through laboratory scutching. Results showed significant differences between the varieties. Artemida achieved higher straw yields, particularly in moderately fertile soils, while Hermes produced a higher proportion of long fibers and adapted better to less-fertile soils. Hermes fibers were thinner and more delicate, whereas Artemida fibers were coarser and stronger. The average straw yield of the Artemida variety was higher by 1.5 t ha⁻¹ than that of the Hermes variety. The yield and quality of fiber were determined by soil fertility and climate, and the genotype–environment interaction was of the greatest importance. These findings provide valuable insights for farmers and stakeholders in selecting suitable flax varieties for different soil and climatic conditions in central–eastern Poland. The value chain approach also supports optimizing cultivation practices and improving the economic sustainability of flax production. Full article

Hemp is finding a strong renewal of interest in the production of fine fibers for garment textiles. This resource of long-line fibers would come as a complement to the highly demanded flax fibers, whose large production in the north-west of Europe cannot be extended. In Normandy, where a complete industrial value chain exists for flax, it is intended to adapt it to hemp, and this was demonstrated from the field to the scutched fibers with a complete value chain. In this region, early harvesting is necessary to leave enough time for dew-retting and permit dry storage of stems before mid-September. An early-flowering variety (USO-31) was harvested using dedicated hemp equipment to obtain a 1 m parallel and aligned windrow that can be further processed by flax equipment. The scutching process as well as the fiber’s morphological and mechanical properties were particularly studied. Adapted scutching process parameters with reduced advancing speed and beating turbine velocity led to long fiber yields of about 18% of the stem mass. Stem yields were reaching about 6 tons/ha leading to a production of 1.1 tons/ha of long fibers. The tensile properties of the long fibers were highly sufficient for textile applications, and their thickness after hackling was in the range suitable for the production of fine yarns. Compared to other crops grown in Normandy, the hemp as produced in this 2020 case study provides good incomes to the farmer, higher than traditional crops such as wheat or barley, and the results of this study should encourage farmers to grow hemp for textile purposes. Full article