Hemp is an ideal crop to cultivate if you are trying to combat disease in your field, while simultaneously protecting soil erosion by covering it naturally.
Hemp can tolerate both salty soil conditions and excessive humidity levels during growth. Prior to baling, however, hemp must be retted and dried down to 14% moisture content before baling is possible.
Soil Preparation
Soil quality is a cornerstone of hemp production systems. Hemp plants require well-drained, rich organic matter soil with an ideal pH range between 6.0 to 7.5, free from salts or heavy metals that could potentially compromise plant health.
Before hemp planting, farmers must clear away weeds and debris from their fields. Tilling lightly will loosen compacted soil and improve aeration while excessive tilling could damage its structure and lead to erosion; excessive tilling should therefore only be practiced sparingly. It is also important to add compost or other soil amendments before planting to improve airflow, increase fertility of the soil structure and decrease disease risks.
Hemp requires a balance of macronutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Soil testing should be used to ascertain your specific soil nutrient needs; organic fertilizers like blood meal (13:1:0.6 NPK) and compost (2:0.5-1:2 NPK) may be utilized to supplement nitrogen needs of your crop.
Hemp is an annual photoperiod-sensitive crop with dioecious flowers produced on separate plants (dioecious). Male plants are harvested as seed while the female plant yields fiber to harvest as fiber production. As hemp matures it provides natural shade which reduces weed growth while simultaneously decreasing incidences of diseases and providing protection from soil erosion due to dense leaves on its plants.
Planting
Hemp is a dioecious crop, which means it produces both male and female flowers similar to soybeans that can be used for fiber or seed production. Hemp plants typically reach 1-m tall with their thin stems standing upright; after 60-90 days for fibre production or 90-120 depending on variety selection, mature hemp plants can produce harvestable fiber or seed yield.
Hemp requires adequate soil moisture at planting in order to achieve rapid germination and out-compete weeds, with primary (moldboard or chisel plow) and secondary tillage operations (disc or rotary cultivator) creating an optimal seedbed. Hemp can be planted using conventional equipment like air or grain drills set for sorghum settings but caution must be used with any type of tillage equipment, as its smaller seeds are particularly fragile and vulnerable to being damaged during drilling operations.
Hemp crops may experience poor germination, damping-off, and nutrient loss during periods of excessive wetness, leading to reduced stands, increased competition with weeds, decreased yield potential and lower yield potential.
Hemp is an intensive crop that requires large quantities of nitrogen for fibre production. When setting nitrogen requirements, one should take into account anticipated plant stand density and expected fibre yield as well as any organic sources (blood meal, rotted manure and compost), may be required in no-till hemp systems to reach sufficient N levels. Potassium levels should also be sufficient; sources for potassium such as manure compost or inorganic sources such as urea should suffice.
Fertilization
Hemp requires well-drained soils. Overwatered conditions during planting time may result in damping-off and seedling rot, while ideal loamy soil conditions will contain good fertility, high organic matter content, pH of 6.0-7.5 and ample loam content for maximum hemp plant health. Although hemp plants can grow on different types of soils, it is crucial to understand its particular requirements.
Hemp is a non-till crop. No herbicides are currently approved for use on hemp in the US; however, cultivation and tillage techniques can help reduce weed pressure in hemp fields.
Fertilizers are also an essential element of Hemp Farm Management. Soil tests will determine the optimal N fertilizer application rate. A general recommendation of 150 pounds per acre with P and K applied at 30-40 pounds per acre; organic alternatives like blood meal (13:1:0.6 NPK) or compost (2:0.5-1:2 NPK) may also be suitable.
Hemp plants are dioecious, producing either male or female flowers. Male plants tend to produce more fiber due to having more hurds that rett faster, making them ideal for fiber production; however, female flowers must still pollinate hurds and set seeds, so it is vitally important that you know which variety your field is producing before harvest. If it produces male plants then wait until they rett before collecting your straw harvesting it from that field.
Harvest
Hemp requires little in terms of maintenance, however field selection and planting rates will have an effect on its production. Target plant populations can be identified depending on your intended use of hemp production; seed rates similar to small grains but with much higher density when seeded for fibre or hemp oil production are essential in providing enough canopy coverage and adequate canopy coverage is maintained throughout its canopy coverage area. Ultimately, hemp crops provide excellent shade to prevent weed growth as well as reduced erosion by keeping water within its surface layers – benefits which make for great productivity overall!
As there are no registered herbicides for hemp, varieties adapted to minimal weed pressure should be selected. Hemp can also be planted in rows, though grain drills provide better canopy penetration and less competition with weeds.
Harvested plants must have their long, strong bast fibers separated from their inner hurd fibres for processing into various products. Hemp straw can also be harvested and baled for storage and transport purposes, though its retted fibers must first be dried down to 12-14% moisture before storage and transport.
As with any new crop, price and marketing risks must be carefully considered. Producers are strongly encouraged to contract with a processor before beginning growing to ensure there is an outlet for their hemp; otherwise transportation costs could quickly deplete profits of producers who live far from markets that buy their produce.