Melfort Research Farm Pictures (Sept. 2002)
Some information about this project
In 2002 the Saskatchewan Hemp Association continued with its annual hemp varietal trials at AAFC's Research farm in Melfort, Saskatchewan. This is some of the essential research that needs to be conducted in order to present accurate agronomic information to producers. SHA has been involved in similar research with AAFC and industry partners in past years.
SHA is a nonprofit farmer organization located in Saskatchewan involved in promoting research, production, marketing and use of hemp seed and fibre. The Melfort Research farm, AAFC, has a mandate in crop diversification, in order to provide producers alternative crops and crop production practises for the Parkland region.
The 2002 project "Adaptability of Hemp Cultivars to the Northern Parkland Region" was funded by SHA and AAAFC through the Matching Investment Initiative (MII).
Although hemp was grown in Canada in the past, its cultivation was suspended early in the 20th century (1938) and recent research is limited. Most cultivars being grown in western Canada are of European origin; local breeding efforts as well as agronomic studies of the available germplasm to the different growing regions has just started and needs to be promoted and aided.
The 2002 research was to determine the adaptability of commercial fibre and oilseed cultivars to the North Parkland region, addressing three factors in crop production: cultivars, plant density and soil fertility.
Picture Key and brief Notes
801-802 USO 14
803-804 Felina 34
805-806 USO 31
807-808 Kreg
809-811 Carmen
812-813 Fasamo
814-815 Finola
816-817 Anka
Density trial
There are two types of hemp cultivars: dioecious hemp cultivars with separate males and female plants, while monoecious hemp cultivars have both genders present in the same plant. In dioecious hemp, male plants die after pollination, thus reducing the final density of seed producing plants. In order to determine optimal plant densities for both variants of hemp, different seeding rates and row spacings were studied, both monoecious (Fasamo) and dioecious (Finola) cultivars.
818 Finola ~ did not compete well under poor conditions. Weather was dry when seeding and delayed emergence. The weather became wetter late in July , allowing weeds the perfect window to grow.
819 Cecil Vera (AAFC Melfort Research Farm); Helen McPhadin (Stardale Women's Foundation Inc.)
820 Field Plots
821 Field Plots
822 Cecil and Arthur (SHA)
823 Cecil and Arthur (SHA)
824 Carmen again
825 Hemp being overrun by volunteer canola
Fertility
It is generally believed that hemp be a crop that can develop and produce well in poor soils. An experiment was conducted in order to study response of hemp to different levels of soil fertility.
826 Fertility trials N40
827 Finola N80
828 Finola N0
N80/N40 not so different in results
829 Fasamo 120N
830 Fasamo 80N
831 2nd fertility plot. "it looked so bad that we replanted" "2nd crop looks less weedy, but not as good emergence"
832 Fasamo close-up
833 Another plot shot overview
834 Fasamo 120N; stalk much larger; hand for size comparison purposes
836 Finola 0N
837 Finola 120N
