Assessing the production potential of industrial hemp in the semi-arid west Texas

Abstract

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a water-efficient crop that could fit in the declining water situation of West Texas. However, being a new crop, there is a lack of knowledge about hemp cultivation practices. Therefore, multiple experiments were conducted at Quaker Research Farm of Texas Tech University to (1) evaluate the biomass productivity potential of several imported hemp cultivars under different planting dates in field conditions, and (2) test the seed germination capacity of hemp cultivars in a range of temperatures using a growth chamber. In the field, the highest biomass yield was recorded for Jinma in 2020, which was almost 180% higher than the average biomass of two other cultivars. In 2021, early planting observed higher plant biomass, plant height, and irrigation water use efficiency compared to late planting. The highest biomass was recorded for Jinma, followed by Yuma, Eletta Campana, and Fibranova in 2021. Jinma and Yuma resulted in high Tetrahydrocannabinol content at harvesting. In the growth chamber study, percentage germination remained similar from 10 to 30 °C, but it decreased by 28% at 35 °C compared to 30 °C. The speed of germination was higher at 30 °C compared to other temperatures. The mean germination time was recorded the highest at 10−15 °C, and in Jinma among cultivars. Results indicate that Eletta campana with early planting could be more productive in West Texas. Overall, hemp germination was more sensitive to high temperatures compared to low temperatures.

Keywords

• cannabis sativa l.
• planting date
• biomass
• irrigation water use efficiency
• speed of germination
• mean germination time