Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture - Industrial Hemp Growth Trials

Abstract: This was the second year a project designed to evaluate industrial hemp as a crop suited to New Brunswick. The four cultivars grown this year were the German Fasamo, French Fedora 19 and Felina 34, using Uniko -B as a year to year control. Each was grown on a quarter acre which in turn was divided into four fertilizer treatments. The design was repeated nine times i.e. run at nine sites around New Brunswick. Height and dry weight yield did not correlate as closely this year as year. The experiment conformed to a four way factorial analysis of variance. In contradistinction to last year statistically significant differences existed for the differences between cultivars and sites as well as date and fertilizer. Compaction analyzed as a comparison between rolling and not rolling following planting was statistically significant and interacted with cultivar. Fedora and Uniko preformed better when not rolled, Felina and Fasamo performed better when rolled. In 1999 moisture was insufficient for long periods yet 5 tons an acre was realized. There were no crop wide failures attributable to lack of moisture alone. Due to an error in the headings of one of the tables last year, yields were underestimated, weights given as pounds per acre were actually kg per acre, which means the actual high yields last year were in the range of 9 tons per acre. Yield, dry matter per acre, this year from sites weight sampled approached 8 tons per acre. Calculated yields for other sites surpassed that. This was true both for the conventional fertilizer treatment and for organic fertilizers. It takes 10 tons of composed cow manure per acre to get that kind of growth. The maturing heads of the Fedora and Felina were attacked by fungus, Botrytis cinerea, Scletoyinia (sp) and Alternaria (sp) which prevented normal seed maturation. Fasamo produced good seed crops at 5 of the 9 sites. It seemed resistant to fungus and lodging, European corn borer caused problems in other cultivars. Other issues are raised and discussed Most significant is the need to reduce genetic variability within the cultivars.

¹Surge Inc, 157C Water Street, Saint Andrews, NB E5B 1A7