| Hemp, Cannabis sativa, is a plant that has many uses, including fiber, oil, and seed. Hemp, despite its utility, is not one of the top five imported/exported textiles in the United States. Cotton, wool, silk, linen, and manmade textiles are the top 5 for imports and exports in the United States. Hemp production was banned in the United States in the 1950s and has just recently become legalized. The Federal Farm Bill, Section 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014, says that state departments of agriculture with legalized hemp production can create industrial hemp research programs. With a rich history of hemp production in Kentucky, many universities in Kentucky jumped at the chance to start research. One area in need of research was soil temperature as it correlates to seed germination. Hemp is a competitor with weeds, but only if it germinates at the correct time. This study will look at three hemp varieties and five different soil temperatures to determine which of the five temperatures will promote for the highest germination rate. Two of the three varieties tested showed the best germination rates at 75?F. At this temperature, 43 CFX1 seeds germinated and 27 CANADA seeds germinated. The highest germination for variety CFX2 was seen at 71?F with 45 of the 50 seeds germinating. Recommendations for planting are as follows, when planning to plant fields of hemp, plant when soil temperatures are closest to 75?F. This should lead to the most seed germination. Thus, allowing the seedling to outcompete weeds in the area. These soil temperatures can be found when daytime temperatures are close to 85?F. |
