Item – Theses Canada

OCLC number
743389736
Link(s) to full text
LAC copy
LAC copy
Author
Hermann, Anndrea Marie,1976-
Title
The effect of plant population density and harvest timing on agronomic fibre yield and quality characteristics of industrial hemp (Cannabis), cultivar Alyssa, grown in the Parkland Region of Manitoba, Canada.
Degree
M. Sc. -- University of Manitoba, 2008
Publisher
Ottawa : Library and Archives Canada = Bibliothèque et Archives Canada, [2010]
Description
2 microfiches
Notes
Includes bibliographical references.
Abstract
Hemp ('Cannabis sativa' L.) is a versatile plant that is grown for its premier grain and/or fibre characteristics. After 50 years of prohibition, Canadian hemp is being recognized and promoted worldwide. This has resulted in the increased need for Canadian based agronomic hemp research. Split-plot replicated studies were conducted in 2006 and 2007 at five locations in the Parkland region of Manitoba, Canada to determine the effects of three targeted plant population densities (100, 200, and 300 plants m -2) and three harvest timings (hemp decimal codes 2102, 2306 and 2307) on hemp fibre yield and quality characteristics. Alyssa, a Manitoba bred cultivar, was used to determine the treatment effects on self-thinning, stem diameter, plant height, biomass, bast and hurd percentage along with the lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose and holocellulsoe content of bast and hurd in three 20 cm stalk sections. The results from 5 site years indicated the targeted plant population density significantly influenced self-thinning, plant height and stem diameter in the bottom, middle and top sections of the plant. Due to inter-plant competition for available resources plant stands tended to be affected by increasing the population density, where final counts ranged from 50-280 plants m -2. Plant height (130-261 cm) and stem diameters (3-8 mm) in all sections were greatest at 100 plants m-2; thereafter decreases occurred. Harvest timing significantly influenced self-thinning, biomass and the percentage of bast and hurd. Plant counts decreased with delayed harvest. Biomass yield tended to increase at the last harvest (3350-6967 kg ha -1) while the percentage of bast (7-29 %) and hurd (48-85 %) fibre tended to decrease as harvest was delayed. In general, bast fibre consisted of approximately 86% cellulose, 3% lignin, 7% hemicellulose and 93% holocellulose (combined cellulose and hemicellulose) while the hurd consisted of 56% cellulose, 16% lignin, 19% hemicellulose and 75% holocellulose at harvest 1 (technical maturity). Overall the Canadian cultivar, Alyssa was relatively stable across the imposed treatments.
ISBN
9780494489796
0494489790