RENGEO D.

WHICH ROLE HEMP MAY PLAY IN AN INTEGRATED PLANT PRODUCTION UNDER IRRIGATION SYSTEM

WHICH ROLE HEMP MAY PLAY IN AN INTEGRATED PLANT PRODUCTION UNDER IRRIGATION SYSTEM LA PLACE QUE PUISSE OCCUPER LE CHANVRE DANS L'AGRICULTURE INTEGR NOTAMMENT DANS SON SYSTEME D'IRRIGATION RENGEO Dejana Abstract In many industrial processes (textile, food, cosmetics, pharmacy etc.) renewable impute material increases the demand for some fibber, pulp, drug and seed crops, especially those which meet severe issues of environment protection. Among traditional field crops hemp is a very versatile drug, fibre and seed plant due to its vigorous growth and adaptation potential: high fibre and pulp yield sown in extreme densities in the north, and higher drug and seed yield in thin stands towards the warmer south. If available water is not the limiting factor, booth seed and DM yields may outyield all other fibre crops in the temperate region begging the climax of this utilisation purpose. Since production as a drug plant is prohibited or controlled in many countries, as well as misinterpreted and connected with identification problems, also production of fibre, pulp and seed, hemp is not permitted in many countries. So demand and prices of this raw material are still growing especially if produced without chemicals (organic, biodynamic, sustainable etc.). Seeds and fibre have also been parameters in our field studies where combined increasing availability of N and water including root development have been followed. The importance of roots in soil drainability is still neglected, even if roots play an important role in draining and tolerating heavy metals in polluted soil, accumulated in leafs and seeds but less in stems and fibbers as tests in Poland have shown her use of stems as draining material in drainage system, also a new idea.
Parmi les fruits des champs, le chanvre se distingue comme un de plus utiles et universales, grce a sa croissance exubrante et sa extrme capacit d'adaptation; ainsi, les denses semis du nord procurent une riche rcolte des fibres, appels chnevottes, et de la pulpe, tandis que les semences clairsems du sud resultent en une rcolte abondant en graines, appeles chnevis, et en substances medicinales. A moins que de l'eau disponible ne pose pas de restriction, la rcolte des chnevis et de la masse scque du chanvre, cultiv de diffrentes manires, surpasse la rcolte de toutes les autres plantes de textil. Or tout utile qu'il soit, tant cependant une plante, semblable celle dont l'on extrait de la drouge, et vu qu'il en est assez difficile de distinguer le Cannabis sativa ssp. indica, sa cultivation et par consquant la production des chenevottes, de sa pulpe et des chnevis sont interdites ou au moins strictement controlles dans la plupart de pays. Et c'est pourquoi la demande de cette matire premire et alors son prix ne cessent pas de crotre, d'autant plus, quand elle est cultive sans aucunes substanches chimiques, c'est--dire d'une manire organique, biodynamique, extensive, etc. L'objet de nos expriences aux chneviers, c'tait l'influence du azote et de l'eau disponibles sur l'eau sur l'volution des racines du chanvre aussi bien que sur des chnevis et sur des chnevottes, et surtot le rle extrmement important mais souvent compltement neglig de ses racines dans le drainage du sol et dans l'assainissement des terraines polu par l'alliage dur qu'absorbent ses feuilles, des chnevis et aussi, certes dans une mesure beaucoup plus modeste, sa tige et des chnevottes, ce que l'on avait apperu en Pologne. Ce qu'espre donc cette expos d'apporter de noveau aux connassences de cette plante autant que matire premire diversifie par excellence, c'est l' ide d'utiliser ses tiges dans la fabrication des matriaux pour les systmes de drainage, une ide, qui restent pourtant encore sans expriences et inaccomplie.

SI 9204 ALOVCI 3, ABS. AGR., BIOTECHNICAL FACULTY, LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA

RENGEO D. WHICH ROLE HEMP MAY PLAY IN AN INTEGRATED PLANT PRODUCTION UNDER IRRIGATION SYSTEM

1 Why to cultivate hemp? After the Rome-club's opinion, we are facing ecological catastrophe, which is oncoming incredibly fast. The greenhouse effect, ozone layer thinning, plankton withering and changing of oceanic currents are just the beginning of rapidly increasing climate changes. This all tell us that something is terribly wrong with human society. The only solution seems to be the complete reorganisation of economy and policy system. The economy should, on the one side, consider cost of environmental pollution and so is also the opinion of the World Bank.(2) On the other side, tax policy should appropriately promote and encourage naturefriendly industry branches and discourage those based on dirty technologies.(3) Never in his history lived the man so hostile to the nature as he does today. He neglected plants which he once used to cultivate and exploit as a raw material for clothing, paper, oil, food and medicine. The most used fibreplants once were flax and hemp.(10) Now, in the nylon age, we almost forgot them. However, due to implementation of new producing and processing technologies of plants, we are able to use flax and hemp completely. Under such condition both plants can be as competitive as new artificial materials or hardly renewable resources, such as rain forest. Because of the surplus of tradi-tional agricultural produces in the western world, industrial plants are even more attractive for farmers. Hemp is a versatile plant with many possible ways of use and demands for it increase. There is an establishing combined way of hemp producing; for fibres, cellulose and seeds. The amount of gained hemp yield in Netherlands is 10 - 17 t/her of dry metter.(8) When seed is sown less dens, the plant gains more sunlight which then enables better assimilation of energy to the seed.(5) The result is increased seed yield and therefore higher economical benefit. However, there is still the remaining problem of mechanist gathering of hemp with combine harvesters because of its robustness and height, which could be over 3 metres in continental Europe climate conditions and 5 metres in southern vegetation zones (Fig.1). But even handmade harvesting has is benefits. Hemp seed contain a lot of proteins and that can contribute to the hunger decreasing in the third world. Stalk, on the other side, can be used as a building material, cellulose or fuel.(1) Seed yield can oscillate and depends on cultivar, fertilising, earth type and available water. Under Slovenian climate conditions, first attempts of hemp cultivation gained yield of 2.1 t/ha of seed and 3.6 t/ha of stalk mass. 2 Roots
Fig.1: Over 4 meters tall hemp growing on sand soil near Drava river Fig.1: Le chanvre de plus de quatre mtres d'hauter sur du sol sanlonneux au bord de la Drave

The hemp root system develops more slowly than overground part of the plant, so its mass contributes only 15 - 20% to the total mass of the ripe plant. It grows most successfully in fertile soil containing lot of humus. In a permeable soil, plant develops main root deep into the ground, so it can use nutrients from underground water. In less permeable soil and higher underground water level the plant develops shallow and therefore more spread roots. Lack of nutrients and low underground water level, force hemp to develop roots deeper into the soil. After the harvest, roots remaining in the soil slowly decay and work as canals, enabling penetration of water and air deep into the soil, later resulting with more successful cultivation of next crops.(6)

SI 9204 ALOVCI 3, ABS. AGR., BIOTECHNICAL FACULTY, LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA

RENGEO D. WHICH ROLE HEMP MAY PLAY IN AN INTEGRATED PLANT PRODUCTION UNDER IRRIGATION SYSTEM

3 Collector of nitrates and heavy metals Usual nutrition requirements of hemp to produce 10 t of dry matter are 60 - 100 kg of N, 120 - 150 kg of P2O5 and 120 - 180 kg of K2O. Hemp is also capable to absorption of large portion of nitrogen and in permeable soil it's roots will develop very deep to reach it. This is certainly good characteristic considering increasing nitrate pollution. In Poland hemp has been cultivated on fields polluted with heavy metals. Pollution affects neither gained yield not fibres quality, on the other side, heavy metals are absorbed by leaves, roots and seed. Stalk and fibres are only able to absorb negligible amounts of heavy metals. A question is how to use such alloyed seed, leaves and roots.(8) 4 Irrigation of hemp To produce a 1 kg of dry matter, hemp needs 600 kg of water. Fig. 2: Developing of roots depends on Its transpiration coefficient is between 200 and 600 mm in a position of available nutritions and season. Water capacity optimum is 65 - 70% of full saturation. underground water level. Water needs of hemp change during plant growing and follow in Fig. 2: Le developpement des racines dpend de l'emplacement des substances nutrives next order: 30% from sprouting to beginning of flowering, 50% disponibles et du niveau de l'eau souterraine. from beginning to full flowering, 20% to full mature. Because of its height, irrigation or hemp using sprinkling is not simple. Large interception waste is also to be expected. Better solution seems to be surface dripping irrigation or even better, irrigation with underground pipes. From last solution we could expect most rational water exploitation because of spread root system and minimum losses due to evaporation.(9)

5 Other positive characteristics of hemp cultivation Because of its adhesiveness and height, which could be 3 - 5 metres, hemp is irreplaceable as protection by producing of seed. With its adhesive leaves it glues pollen and other flying particles. It aggravates moving of field pests and diverts game. Austrian producers have noticed diminishing of diseases and larger honey yield from bees which have grazed on hemp. Male plants have very long flowering period (30 - 45 days) and Fig. 3: Most rational exploitation of water can be achieved with irrigaproduce lot of pollen that is taken by tion using underground pipes or with individual irrigation of each plant. bees. Russian scientist have also Fig. 3: Le rendement maximal de l'eau est acquis soit par l'irrigation noticed positive influence of hemp on avec des condutites d'eau souterraines soit par l'emplacement des conduites d'eau individuelles auprs de chauque plante, plantes au sol decreasing of bees diseases.(11) In the au-desuss des racines. past hemp plantation were important source of food for birds and use as their shelter too. In replace for picked seed they exterminated pests. With hemp plantation we could increase population of rare birds. Fields where hemp was grown, remain free of weeds. With rotation of crops, where we combine hemp and leguminose plant, we could omit fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers.

SI 9204 ALOVCI 3, ABS. AGR., BIOTECHNICAL FACULTY, LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA

RENGEO D. WHICH ROLE HEMP MAY PLAY IN AN INTEGRATED PLANT PRODUCTION UNDER IRRIGATION SYSTEM

6 Production of hemp in European countries Table: Produce of hemp in European countries.(8) Tableau: La production du chanvre dans les pays europens.
COUNTRY Poland Russia Switzerland CULTIVAR BENIKO FUTURA FELINA FEDORA
KOMPOLTI HYBRID TC

PLANT DENSITY 60 - 70 kg/ha (plant/m2)300 - 350 200 - 350 90 2-4 10 -15

DM YIELDS (t/ha)
10 (straw) 7 (stalks) 5.9 -10 (stalks) 5-10.7 (stalks) 3.2-8.8 (stalks) 11-12 (dry matter) 8-10 (d. matter) 10-13.8 (d. matter) 13.8-17(d. matter) 17-18 (stem yield) 15 (stem yield) 10 (straw) 2 - 3.6 (stem)

Hungary Romania Germany

SEED YIELD (kg/ha) 500 590 1500 1600 290 110 1300 - 2200 1500 - 2100

FIBER YIELD 27 - 29 % 1.2 t/ha 2-2.5 t/ha 17-23% 19-26%

Netherlands

Serbia Slovenia

FIBRAMULTA FELINA KOMPOLTY HYBRID TC KOMPOLTY HYBRID TC KOMPOLTY HYBRID TC

35.7% -

7 Hemp as building material in irrigation and draining systems

Minced hemp stalks treated with silica and mixed with lime or cement, is universally usable building material that could be compared to concrete. Main characteristic of such material is that hemp is subjected to mineralization and petrifaction. Whit aging that material becomes very hard, so that is harder than concrete and four times lighter. The mentioned process of mineralization was already known by Egyptian 4000 years ago. This procedure is now patented by French company Chanevote habitat. They are selling with silica treated hemp under commercial name Isochanvre. In the last few years France produced 6000 t of hemp for building purposes each year.(4) It would be very interesting to test adequacy of using of this material within irrigating and drainage systems. The advantages would be producing of hemp near the building site and no needs of steel reinforcements. This material is also much lighter which enables easy manipulating and transportation and finally it is natural and could bind CO2 for long time. It can be decomposed by natural processes with no harm for environment. Before invention of nylon, firemen used pipes made of hemp fibbers. Such pipes could be used again within irrigation systems, especially for irrigation of hemp plantations.

8 Summary All characteristics being mentioned, testify that hemp plays very important role in integrated and organic agriculture. Developing industry based on industrial plants will demand more planted land, which will positively affect agriculture and environment. Surpluses of traditional agriculture produces will decrease, farmers will sell their produces to permanent customers and variegated rotation will enable reduced use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Quality of produces will be as much important as quantity. High nutritiousness and versatile use of hemp seed could completely change nutrition habits and reduce use of meat. Irrigation could increase seed yield of hemp and improve economical effects. This possibilities should be reconsidered worldwide.

SI 9204 ALOVCI 3, ABS. AGR., BIOTECHNICAL FACULTY, LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA

RENGEO D. WHICH ROLE HEMP MAY PLAY IN AN INTEGRATED PLANT PRODUCTION UNDER IRRIGATION SYSTEM

Minced hemp stalks treated with silica and mixed with lime or cement could in the future replace concrete within irrigation and draining systems. Use of pipes made of hemp fibbers could also have advantages and could contribute to reducing the influence of plastics and metals.

9 References 1 Berenji J., 1995. etva semenske konoplje. [Harvest of seeds of hemp] -Agronomska saznanja 2: 71-74, SerboCroatian 2 Daly H., 1996. Catch of fish is no longer restricted with number of fishing boats but with number of fish in the sea, -Human Economy Newsletter. 3 Gore A., 1992. Earth in the balance, -Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, New York, London: 376 4 Isochanvre brochure. Le Verger, F-72260 Rne, French 5 Jefti S., 1986. Konoplja. [Hemp] -Nauna knjiga, Beograd: 200-226, Serbo-Croatian 6 Juri M., 1954. Lanarstvo i kudeljarstvo 1. dio. [Fiber processing] -Tehnina knjiga, Zagreb: 338, SerboCroatian 7 Karus M., 1993. Die Wiederentdeckung der Nutzpflanze Cannabis, Marihuana, Hanf. -Zw

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