Volume 68, June 2015, Pages 131–140
FIBRE CROPS: from production to end use
Highlights
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- It contains a lot of information about kenaf management (varieties, sowing dates, plant populations, irrigation and fertilization rates, weed control, rotation, etc.).
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- Its a review paper but also contains a lot of information from the author team that use to cultivate kenaf for several years.
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- It contains information about the main challenges of the crop.
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- It is based on a going project entitled FIBRA.
Abstract
Kenaf
is an annual spring fibre crop and it is considered as a valuable
multipurpose crop due to numerous end uses. Currently, in the framework
of an EU project entitled FIBRA (www.fibrafp7.net),
kenaf is being investigated in Europe and China as source for
sustainable bio-based products. Like all the other cultivated crops, the
determination of the appropriate crop management (varieties, sowing
dates, plant populations, irrigation, fertilization, weed control and
harvesting time) is a key factor for the successful insertion of the
crop in the existing agricultural cropping systems with economic
benefits. Recently, new kenaf varieties have been released in both USA
and China with increased biomass productivity and for some of them with
an increased resistance to nematodes and anthracnose. Kenaf sowing
should take place in spring as soon as the soil temperature is higher
than 15 °C. When the crop it is cultivated for its fibre stem the plant
population should vary from 200,000 to 500,000 plants/ha and the row
spacing from 35 to 50 cm. In areas that the precipitation is limited,
during the hot summer months, irrigation is needed in order the crop to
reach high biomass yields. It is a crop with sensitivity to nematodes,
especially when it is cultivated in areas with sandy soil and this
sensitivity should be taken under consideration in the rotation systems
that will be applied. Harvesting time and methods should be adjusted
according to the use of the crop (fibre, seeds, fibre and seeds,
forage). The development of varieties or hybrids with higher yields
(either for stem production or dual purpose varieties for stems and
seeds production) and improved resistance to drought as well as to
nematodes and anthracnose is considered one of the main challenges for
the future of the crop.
Keywords
- Kenaf;
- Hibiscus cannabinus L.;
- Crop management;
- Varieties;
- Sowing time;
- Plant populations;
- Weed control;
- Nematodes;
- Harvesting time
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