Friday, 2 September 2016

How kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) can achieve high yields in Europe and China

Published Date

June 2015, Vol.68:131–140, doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2014.10.027

FIBRE CROPS: from production to end use

Title

How kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) can achieve high yields in Europe and China

Author

E. Alexopoulou^a,^,

D. Li^b

Y. Papatheohari^c

H. Siqi^b

D. Scordia^d

G. Testa^d

aCRES – Center for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving, 19th Km Marathonos Avenue, 19009 Pikermi Attikis, Greece
bIBFC – Institiute of Bast Fiber Crops, 348 Western Xianjiahuxi Road, Changsha, 410205 Hunan, China
cAUA – Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, Votakinos, Athens, Greece
dUNICT – University of Catania, Productioni Agrarie e Alimentari, Via Valdisavoia 5, 95123 Catania, Italy

Received 12 July 2014. Revised 15 October 2014. Accepted 17 October 2014. Available online 29 January 2015.

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.