Physical parameters of dew retted and water retted hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) fibres

Even small additions of hemp fibres to fabrics result in significantly higher surface resistance and increased heat sorption. The two major retting methods (dew retting and water rating) are used to extract fibbers for industrial uses. Both methods produce fibres of different quality. The results of research, carried out at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture, Upyte Experimental Station in 2006 2007, showed that dew retted and water retted hemp fibres differed in appearance. Hemp variety as a factor showed higher impact on physical fibre parameters: fibre content in dew retted and water retted hemp straw, dew retted hemp straw output from hemp stalks, the strength of fibre obtained from dew retted and water retted hemp. Seed rate as a factor did not show any significant influence on physical fibre parameters, and only some trends of higher parameters at higher seed rates could be observed. Statistical evaluation indicated that the year as a factor affected the majority of physical parameters tested. Statistical data processing also showed that the fibre extraction method as a factor had a significant influence on the fibre content in hemp straw in 2006, on the straw output from hemp stalks in 2007, on the fibre content in hemp stalks and hemp fibre flexibility in both years of investigation, on the hemp fibre strength in 2006.