![Those wily penn state researchers just got a $1m award to grow cannabis sativa (aka marijuana) for the production of, ahem, rope and “green building materials”. 1 Cannabis sativa marijuana](https://www.geekslop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cannabis-sativa-marijuana.jpg)
Let’s grow cannabis sativa and tell everyone we’re making rope
A wily team of researchers from different fields at Penn State has received $1 million from the National Science Foundation’s Engines Development Award for a project to create the Pennsylvania Industrial Hemp Engine (PAIHE). This engine will make it possible to produce and use biodegradable products like green building materials, packaging, fabrics, and renewable energy out of cannabis sativa, or hemp.
The researchers point out that they will not be growing “pot” since the THC levels are not a concern. Their project is intended to help others. The NSF’s Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships created the Engines Development Award to help partners in 44 projects nationwide create new opportunities for their regions in economics, society, and technology. PAIHE is one of those projects funded in the first round of awards.
“The launch of the Pennsylvania Industrial Hemp Engine reflects Penn State’s commitment to groundbreaking research and to fostering economic development that enriches and empowers our commonwealth, both of which are at the core of our mission as a 21st-century land-grant university,” said Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi.
But wait, won’t they be growing marijuana?
Humans have used industrial hemp for a long time, and it was often found near early nomadic settlements close to streams. Hemp was traditionally grown as a fiber source and most types in temperate climates had very low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, the cannabinoid that gets you high.
Hemp came to North America in the early 1600s and was widely grown in many parts of the state. At one time, there were over 100 water-powered mills for processing hemp fiber in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania alone.
There were also many hemp seed oil mills that pressed the excess hemp seed into oil, which was used in paints, ink, varnishes, and lamp oil. Hemp was used to produce rope, grain bags, wagon covers, and clothing. In the mid-1800s, the introduction of cotton as a fiber crop and tobacco led to a decline in hemp production.
In the 1930s, legislation was introduced at the state and federal levels banning hemp cultivation due to concerns over using the plants for drug purposes. The Marihuana Tax Act of 1938 made both hemp and marijuana controlled substances and effectively eliminated the production of industrial hemp (with a few exceptions when fiber was needed during WWII). It wasn’t until the 1960s that THC was determined to be the psychoactive component that gets a person “high,” so there was no way at the time to distinguish low-THC industrial hemp from high-THC varieties like those used for medical marijuana.
You can grow pot, but you can’t smoke it
Cannabis sativa has been illegal in the U.S. since 1937. It’s been a Schedule I drug, which is the worst kind. The DEA has controlled it. But in 2014, the “Farm Bill” made it legal to grow industrial hemp in three ways: for research at a college, by state agriculture departments, or by farmers who are part of a research program. In 2016, the DEA, USDA, and FDA said that people could grow hemp as part of research programs. They said you can only sell hemp in states with special programs, you can only send seeds and plants to other states if it’s part of a research program, and you can only get seeds from people who are registered with the DEA.
And we’ll teach you how to grow marijuana
Researchers have determined that hemp grows best in well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Wet and heavy clay soils are not good for hemp. Hemp is sensitive to soil crusting and compaction, which can happen on these soils. The best time to plant hemp is from May to early June in Pennsylvania. Some Canadian varieties can still mature before frost if planted through mid-to-late June. Hemp is a short-day plant and will only mature when the day length is less than 12 hours of sunlight.
Farmers usually grow medium to shorter varieties when growing hemp for seeds. They have to get the seeds from other countries since it’s not allowed to ship seeds between states. Varieties with low THC levels must be chosen. In Pennsylvania and many other states, the THC level in industrial hemp must be below 0.3%. Most industrial hemp seed sources have tested their varieties to meet this requirement. Varieties come in various heights, including medium height (6–7 feet tall), semi-dwarf (4–5 feet tall), and dwarf (3–4 feet tall).
Growing hemp for seeds is similar to growing corn or small grains. Since no herbicides are approved for use on hemp, weeding will need to be done by hand if grown in rows. However, it can also be grown in a tilled seedbed, which is similar to the preparation for a forage crop, or with no-till methods using herbicides to control weeds. Depending on the variety, it is recommended to plant industrial hemp at a rate of 25 to 35 pounds per acre, with a planting depth of ½ to ¾ inch. A dense, drilled stand can help control weeds.
Fertilizer needs can be determined with a soil test. The Agricultural Analytical Services Lab at Penn State has developed fertilizer recommendations for hemp. For an optimum level of phosphorus and potassium, recommendations for a crop with a 1,500-pound yield potential would be 150 pounds of nitrogen, 30 pounds of phosphate, and 20 pounds of potash.
Hemp can be affected by disease and insect pests while growing. Although it has been uncommon in initial trials, the problem could increase with more cultivation. Gray mold, white mold, bacterial leaf spots, viruses, and Pythium root rot and blight during establishment are some of the diseases that have been noted. It is best to avoid growing hemp in fields that have previously had white mold problems in soybeans or canola or in wet fields where seed rots could be a problem.
Although cutworms, grubs, flea beetles, grasshoppers, and aphids are known to cause issues with other crops, only Japanese beetles have been reported in Pennsylvania research trials on hemp, and they are attracted only to the male plants. Slugs and birds, especially mourning doves, can also damage hemp seed. Deer and woodchucks do not seem to cause as much damage as they do in other crops like soybean.
To produce seeds from hemp plants, they should be harvested when the seeds start to break away from the plant. The plants will still be green, and around 70% of the seeds should be ripe with a moisture content of about 22-30%. Delaying the harvest can lead to more losses from seed shattering, bird damage, and poor grain quality. It can also cause more fiber from the stalks to wrap around the combine, which is not good. To prevent this, it’s best to avoid taller varieties.
Image Credits
In-Article Image Credits
Industrial Hemp plantation in the UK with low THC levels via Wikimedia Commons by Nabokov with usage type - Public Domain. September 11, 2007Industrial Hemp plantation in the UK with low THC levels via Wikimedia Commons by Nabokov with usage type - Public Domain. September 11, 2007
Chanvre hemp cannabis sativa pot via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. July 20, 2007
Cannabis flower with trichomes via Wikimedia Commons by Skalle-Per Hedenhos with usage type - Creative Commons License. January 5, 2012
Cannabis plant Marijuana via US Fish and Wildlife Service with usage type - Public Domain
Cannabis sativa marijuana via Wikimedia Commons by Nobokov with usage type - Public Domain. September 11, 2007
Featured Image Credit
Cannabis sativa marijuana via Wikimedia Commons by Nobokov with usage type - Public Domain. September 11, 2007