Effect of sowing and fertilization rates on the productivity of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.)

Abstract

Research was carried out at the Upytė Experimental Station of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry in 2015–2016. The effect of sowing rate (50, 75, 100 kg ha^–1) and fertilization rate (N₀P₀K₀; N₄₅P₄₅K₄₅; N₄₅P₄₅K₄₅ + N_34,4; N₄₅P₄₅K₄₅ + N_68,8) on the biometric and structural parameters of the yield of hemp cultivars ‘Uso 31’ and ‘Felina 32’ was evaluated. It has been established that the accumulation of biomass, which determines fiber yield, strongly depends on the interaction of meteorological conditions, cultivar, sowing and fertilization rates. 100 kg ha^–1 sowing rate in combination with the fertilization N₄₅P₄₅K₄₅ + N_34.4 resulted in the highest fiber yield of the cultivar ‘Uso 31’ in 2015, or in combination with N₄₅P₄₅K₄₅ + N_68.8 in 2016. While the combination of fertilization N₄₅P₄₅K₄₅ + N_34.4 with 75 kg ha^–1 sowing rate in 2015 or with 100 kg ha^–1 sowing rate in 2016 was most appropriate for the cultivar ‘Felina 32’. A positive, strong and statistically significant correlation (P < 0.05) was identified between the amount of biomass and the yield of fiber.