Cultivation Practices Affect Biomass Yield and Quality of “Felina 32”, an Industrial Hemp Variety

Abstract

Hemp is a multipurpose crop that produces high amounts of lignocellulosic biomass. There are few studies dealing with hemp’s biomass production (lignocellulosic and fiber) under cropping strategies such as irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to assess the effect of irrigation and N-fertilization on the lignocellulosic biomass of one of the most well-known industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) varieties worldwide (Felina 32) under a typical Mediterranean climate. For the purposes of this study, a field experiment was conducted in central Greece (Thessaly region) over the cultivating years 2022 and 2023. We determined the produced biomass dry yield and the dry biomass yield vs. N-uptake relation, as well as quality characteristics for hemp (cv. Felina 32) under three irrigation (I1: 33%, I2: 66%, and I3: 100% ETo) and three N-fertilization levels (N1: 0, N2: 70, and N3: 140 kg ha−1). A significant difference in the dry biomass yield was found, ranging between 10–11.2 t ha−1 using I2 and/or I3 irrigation levels and remaining at 8.6 t ha−1 with lower irrigation (I1). In terms of fertilization factor, it appeared that in samplings where statistically significant changes were observed, all degrees of fertilization differed from one another, with the N3 treatment exhibiting the highest production (11.4 t ha−1). The average protein content varied between 10% in 2023 and 14% in 2023. A linear biomass yield–nutrient uptake relationship was found with high R2, pointing to a nitrogen use efficiency of 55.15 kg kg−1. Thus, it would seem that nitrogen fertilization and irrigation are both crucial factors of industrial hemp cultivation, helping to raise the crop’s overall yield of lignocellulosic biomass. The introduction of hemp into land-use systems necessitates thorough evaluation, as hemp shows considerable potential as a crop that can yield substantial quantities of above-ground biomass (lignocellulosic: stems and fibers). This is especially true in regions where irrigation is possible, and the application of nitrogen fertilizers can further enhance these yields.

Keywords

• <i>Cannabis</i>
• irrigation
• nitrogen fertilization
• biomass
• N-uptake
• protein content