Selecting Optimal Hemp (<i>Cannabis sativa</i> L.) Varieties for Long Fibre Production in Western Europe
Industrial hemp (<i>Cannabis sativa</i> 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 prod...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/7/1521 |
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| Summary: | Industrial hemp (<i>Cannabis sativa</i> 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<sup>−1</sup> for Bottelare and Beitem, respectively. Under favourable conditions, long fibre yields reached up to 2.4 t ha<sup>−1</sup> for late-flowering and 2.1 t ha<sup>−1</sup> 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. |
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| ISSN: | 2073-4395 |