Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
5.6.2 Stem shorteners
Today, work focuses on the furthering of
our knowledge of the physiology of this plant
and our understanding of population charac-
teristics (height, stem diameter and popula-
tion density), factors which become important
in determining yields. This can be achieved
through a better understanding of the mech-
anisms controlling flowering (a key factor in
the development of yields), as well as through
an in-depth study of the water-related behav-
iour of this plant. There also remains much
to learn about crop fertilization - and, in par-
ticular, how nitrogen can best be used - in
terms of establishing optimum times for fer-
tilization and formulations. Lack of uniform-
ity in the stand causes variability in the yield.
It is also important that a better understand-
ing of the losses occurring between planting
and harvest be developed, whether these
losses arise at the time of emergence or dur-
ing the course of cultivation. These losses
are related closely to the dynamics of crop
establishment and have a strong bearing on
final yields. The major objective in terms of
developing our knowledge of hemp cultiva-
tion further must be to develop a model that
can predict yields better.
We should not forget the importance of a
good understanding of the plant-soil relation-
ship. In all cases, the development of yields is
a product of the plant's potential and how
this interacts with farming practices and soil
conditions.
Trials were undertaken by the FNPC and the
Chambre d'Agriculture de l'Eure at the end of
the 1990s. Their aim essentially was to
research a method for producing textiles made
of hemp. Using an idea now routine in the
cereal world, they attempted to slow down the
growth of the plant, reducing the production of
hurds and increasing the production of grain.
In the case of hemp, this was intended to pro-
duce shorter plants and thus make the crop
easier to work. They failed to produce any con-
clusive results and needed further research.
The FNPC also conducted a number of tests,
but without any results to date.
5.7 Provisional Conclusions:
Looking to the Future
At the end of this long period of development
and research into the key factors on which
hemp production depends, it would appear
that there is now a good understanding of how
to manage its cultivation; the majority of ele-
ments required to make the necessary techni-
cal choices for production are freely available.
That said, there is much work to be done to
further our knowledge and understanding of
the mechanisms that affect and account for the
variability in the yield of this crop.
Notes
1
Additional sources are available from other organizations, including the Chambre d'Agriculture du Loiret,
as well as from other French and foreign research centres, but have not been exploited for this account
due to time constraints.
2
Growing degree days: the accumulated degrees according to a formula.
3
For further information, see the developments made by François Desanlis in Part I of Chapter 6.
4
It is interesting to note the findings of our Australian co-authors reported in Chapter 6, which
show how watering can increase yields considerably. The decision to water is an economic and
ecological one.
