The Performance of Cannabis Sativa (HEMP) as a Fibre Source for Medium Density Fibre Board (MDF).

Abstract

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) was successfully grown over a three-year period without the use of agrochemicals, and with a relatively low input of nitrogen fertilizer at 120 kg/ha (96 units/ac). The yields achieved were encouraging at an average of 12.5 t/ha of whole stems at 15% m.c. over the three years. Sowing in early- to mid-April at a seed rate of half the conventional recommended rate of 50 kg/ha proved to be sufficient to achieve the maximum yield of stems where long fibre yield and finess (quality) are not required. For this study the hemp was produced as a raw material for the fibre board industry, where the whole stem and not just the long blast fibre is required. Hemp is relatively disease-free with Botrytis and Sclerotinia the only diseases encountered. For both, spraying is not possible due to the height of the crop. Infection rarely causes economic losses. Harvesting hemp proved difficult with conventional farm harvesting equipment. The development of the hemp crop as an industrial raw material will require the development of harvesting, chopping and storage techniques that can cope with the height, bulk and fibrous nature of the crop.