Effect of drip irrigation on yield and evapotranspiration of fibre hemp (Cannabis sativa L.)

Abstract

The experiments showing the effect of drip irrigation on yield and evapotranspiration of fibre hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) were conducted at the experimental field of the Alternative Crops Department, Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia. Irrigation was based on the water balance method. Daily evapotranspiration (ETd) was computed from the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and crop coefficient (kc) 0.5, 0.9 and 1.1 from sowing to 3-4 pair of leaves, from 3-4 pair of leaves to appearance of male flowers and from appearance of male flowers to the end of the season, respectively. ETo was calculated using Hargreaves equation. The irrigation depth was restricted to the soil depth of 0.4 m. In other words, irrigation started when readily available water in the soil layer of 0.4 m was completely depleted by plants. The irrigation rate was 30 mm at the beginning of the season, 40 mm in the middle of the season, and the amount of water added by irrigation was 320 mm during the entire season. Irrigation significantly affected the yield of fresh stems, fresh leaves, flowers and plant height, but not stem diameter and fibre content. Water used on evapotranspiration in irrigation conditions (ETm) was 470 mm, while in non-irrigated control variant it amounted to 129 mm (ETa). These preliminary results could be used as a good platform for hemp growers in the region, in terms of optimizing the use of irrigation water.

Allelopathic Properties of Hemp

“…The world areas devoted to hemp cover 105,576 ha, while the largest producers are China, North Korea, Chile, France, Germany, and Great Britain. The hemp growing areas in Serbia approximate to 200 ha (Pejić et al, 2018).…”

Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Inflorescences as Novel Food: The Effect of Different Agronomical Practices on Chemical Profile

“…Several studies have been carried out on the effect of specific agronomical practices such as fertilization [ 16 , 17 , 18 ], irrigation [ 19 , 20 ], and harvesting period variation [ 11 , 13 , 21 ] on hemp cultivation.…”

The Effects of Irrigation, Topping, and Interrow Spacing on the Yield and Quality of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Fibers in Temperate Climatic Conditions

“…In conditions of gradual reductions in water resources for irrigation, care should be taken about its rational use, i.e., the highest yield per unit of water consumed should be achieved. Therefore, it is of most importance to know and supply the right amount of water needed for the plants [8,9]. The development of irrigation schedules for any crop implies a study of the crop's requirements for water, that is, evapotranspiration (ET).…”