HENOLA

Soil

Hemp is sensitive to poor soils, thus, fertile mineral soils (loam and sandy loam), drained and cultivated peat soils are most suitable. Hemp grows best in fertile soils with a pH level of 7.1-7.6. Before growing hemp in more acidic soil (pH up to 6.0), it should be limed beforehand.

Crop rotation

Hemp is not very sensitive to crop rotation. The most suitable pre-crops are black fallow, winter crops, potatoes or beets and perennial grasses (1:1 mixture of legumes and grasses). Hemp following only perennial grasses (without legumes) grows worse. Hemp can follow hemp in crop rotation, but it is not advisable, because its yield decreases, diseases and pests occur. Winter wheat could be the best crop to follow hemp in crop rotation (if hemp yield is harvested in time), as weeds could be supressed by hemp in the field. The following crop rotation is possible: cereals with grasses-perennial grasses-hemp-potatoes or beets-hemp.

Fertilization

It is better to sow hemp following manure-fertilized pre-crops. When growing hemp for seed, it is recommended to fertilize N 60-70 kg/ha, P₂O₅ 40-100 kg/ha, K₂O 40-140 kg/ha (adjusting the rates according to soil richness). Excessive nitrogen fertilizer rates prolong vegetation period of hemp and encourage excessive growth of plant biomass.

Time for sowing

Late April-early May, until mid-May, when the soil warms to 10 °C.

Seed rate

20-30 kg/ha (60 plants/m²). Sowing depth – 3-4 cm, 12.5-15 cm interrow spacing.

Crop care

Any pesticides are not used for hemp growing. It is better to choose less weedy soils because hemp right after germination is sensitive to weed shading. When the crop is dense enough, hemp sheds weeds. Herbicides to control grass-weeds can be used if necessary.

Harvesting

The crop is harvested when the seeds have matured in the middle of the panicles. Hemp is threshed with a combine harvester (with the cedar raised as high as possible), cutting only the upper part of the plant with seeds, and the stem stubble is left or shredded and spread in the field. Hemp stalks’ biomass can reach 3-6 t/ha, which should be shredded and inserted into soil or spread on the surface. Adjust the gap of the drum accordingly, select the drum speed and select the appropriate sieves (diameter of the sorting sieve holes 3.25 mm), the knives must be very sharp. The seeds after harvesting from the combine should be immediately cleaned and dried at a temperature of not higher than 30-35 °C to a maximum moisture content of 13 % (preferably 8-11%).

Other

Hemp flowers are abundantly visited by bees.