Hemp, the wonder crop

Hemp, Annual, biennial or perennial? + photoperiod Besides the large scale production of hemp, it is concidered a weed in many places. Weeds are characterised by their purpose to grow as fast as possible until ready to produce seed. After dispersing the seed, the plant die back down and have full filled their function. Hemp is a annual plant which is common for weeds. But there are exceptions, many weeds are biennials or even perennials. After 4-5 week, the male plant are fully matured and disperse their seed for one week after which they die back. the female will the be fertilized and later on harvested. Hemp is the only annual with male and female flowers on seperate plants. It is assumed that hemp was originally an short-lived perennial but as the climate changed in which they were propegated, they changed to annuals. Hemp plants are in general photoperiod sensitive. The exception to the rule is the hemp variety that grow close to the equator. If hemp does not have long perio

Flowering Hemp is a short day plant which means that they only start to flower when the daylength is less than twelve hours. To get the best seed yield and largest stalks, the seeds are put in the ground early in the growing season depending on the local climate, so it has plenty of time to grow. Hemp is a dioecious plant which means that they can be either male or female. However, in hemp production female plants as male plants do not produce seed and die earlier after they flower. A common practices is that farmer buy specially bred seed that is monocious and include only a couple males to fertilize the females. the males will then flower, pollinate the females, and die off, while the females continue to grow and set seed. References: Baxter, J. 2000. Growing Industrial Hemp in Ontario. Agdex# 153/20. Available at http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/00-067.htm#fertility Van der Werf, H.M.G. and W. Van den Berg. 1995. Nitrogen fertilization and sex expression aff

The Anatomy and Morphology of hemp The Hemp (or cannabis) plant, is famous globally because of its iconic shape of leafs. In this post I'm going to talk more in dept about some characteristics of the hemp plant that are also recognisable from the outside, but may not be known for people who's knowledge does not go beyond the point of recognising the shape of the leaf. Monocot or dipot? The distinction between monocot and dicot plant is pretty easy to determine from outside. First of all, you can take a look at the flowers. If the flower is in parts of threes or a multiplied version of this, it is a monocot plant. If the flower is made up in parts of fours and fives of a multiplied version of this, the plan is a dicot. (Source:  http://www.ext.colostate.edu/mg/gardennotes/135.html) Another way to indentify if a plant is a monocot or dicot, is to look at the leafs. Monocot leafs have the veins parallel to each other, while dicot leafs are branches and netlike. This is e

When people talk about hemp, a lot of them will relate it too marijuana, (even though they are quite different), and maybe they also name it as a source of fibres for making clothers. But the huge diversity of applications for this crop is for most people unknown. I picked this crop because I believe that we can have much more benefit both financial and environmental wise, if we were too use this crop on larger scale. Crops can be classified in different ways. In the next part will be discussed how Hemp can be classified, and furthermore, in which categories within these classes it belongs. Agronomic uses Hemp can be used either as a grain, forage, or fiber crop. Grain Hemp seeds are exellent providers of protein, omega 3 and 6 fats. Besides that, hemp seed is a great provider of Manesium, Iron and vitamin E.(M. Roussellask, diet doctor hemp seeds hype). It is often used in a diet as a replacement of meat because of the wide range of amino acids and protein content.  Forage

It is believed that Hemp originates from Mesopotamia  (present-day Turkey) around 8000 B.C. From there is it was introduced in the east, where it was first recorded around  6500  B.C.  The oldest existing piece of hemp paper from China dates back to  A.D. 770. After the discovery of Hemp in China, they started to us hemp also for it in medicine. Hemp was introduced in europe in 2300 B.C. and since 1000 B.C. it was the biggest agricultural crop produced until the 19th century. In 1606, hemp started being cultivated by the British in their colonies. However, hemp was allready present in the new world possibly by Chineese explorers and immigrating birds. When the colonist arrived in America, they were not eager to start cultivating Hemp but it was demanded by europe because of the multiple purposes hemp had to offer. Throughout the history, hemp was a valuable comodity and was at one point even used to pay tax. Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, were also big promotors of hem