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Kenaf - The Old-New Crop For Sustainable Development

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KENAF - An Alternative Crop for  Tropical And Temperate Agriculture

Introduction To The Plant That Can Stop The Cutting Of Old Growth Forests

Kenaf Seeds Are Now Available For Planting This Season. CLICK HERE For Ordering Information.

Hibiscus cannabinus L., kenaf is a warm season annual closely related to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.).

Kenaf can be used as a domestic supply of cordage fiber in the manufacture of rope, twine, carpet backing and burlap. Research, in the early 1940s, focused on the development of high-yielding anthracnose-resistant varieties, cultural practices and harvesting machinery.

Go To Summary

During the 1950s, kenaf was identified as a promising fiber source for paper pulp. Kenaf fibers have been processed into high quality newsprint and bond paper.

Although kenaf is usually considered a fiber crop, research indicates that it has high protein content and, therefore, is a potential livestock feed. Crude protein in kenaf leaves ranged from 21 to 34 percent, stalk crude protein ranged from 10 to 12 percent, and whole-plant crude protein ranged from 16 to 23 percent.

Kenaf can be ensilaged effectively, and it has satisfactory digestibility with a high percentage of digestible protein. Digestibility of dry matter and crude proteins in kenaf feeds ranged from 53 to 58 percent, and 59 to 71 percent, respectively Kenaf meal, used as a supplement in a rice ration for sheep, compared favorably with a ration containing alfalfa meal.

In addition to the use of kenaf for cordage, paper pulp and livestock feed researchers have investigated its use as poultry litter and animal bedding, bulking agent for sewage sludge composting and as a potting soil amendment. Additional products include automobile dashboards, carpet padding, corrugated medium, as a "substitute for fiberglass and other synthetic fibers," building materials (particle boards of various densities, thicknesses, and fire and insect resistances), absorbents, textiles and as fibers in extraction molded plastics.

Photosensitivity and Seed Production

Kenaf varieties can be divided into two major groups based on their photosensitivity - photosensitive and photoinsensitive. Typically, photosensitive varieties are preferred for the production of fiber in the United States. Two of these varieties, Everglades 41 and Everglades 71, were developed by USDA researchers to extend the vegetative growing season before the plants initiate flowering. Photosensitive cultivars initiate flowering when daylengths decrease to approximately 12.5 h; mid September in southern states. In photosensitive varieties, the initiation of flowering causes a reduction in vegetative growth. Because of late floral initiation and inability to produce mature seed prior to a killing frost, seed production in the United States for these varieties is limited to southern Florida, the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas and southernmost Arizona and California.

Photoinsensitive (often referred to as day neutral) varieties can initiate flowering and produce mature seed before a killing frost north of latitude 300. Photoinsensitive varieties, such as Guatemala 4, Guatemala 45, Guatemala 48, Guatemala 51 and Cuba 2032, can initiate flowering 100 days after planting (DAP), and before the daylength decreases to 12.5 h. Photoinsensitive varieties can, therefore, be planted during May or early June in central United States and still have ample time to produce mature seed. The earlier production of mature seed for photoinsensitive varieties greatly expands the potential seed production areas.

As a livestock feed, kenaf is usually harvested at an earlier growth stage than as a fiber crop; 60 to 90 DAP compared with 120 to 150 DAP. During a shorter growing season, photoinsensitive varieties can produce dry matter yields equivalent to photosensitive varieties, while using seed that can be produced further north and in a larger geographic area.

Harvesting and Pelletizing

The evaluation of field equipment for harvesting kenaf continues to be an important aspect of commercialization. It has been demonstrated that standard forage cutting, chopping and baling equipment can be used for harvesting kenaf as either a forage or fiber crop. Kenaf can be baled into small square or large round bales. Sugar cane harvesters, with and without modification, have also been successfully used to harvest kenaf. In cotton growing regions, cotton modules have been used for field-side storage of chopped kenaf. Kenaf can also be pelleted for use as a fiber or forage crop.

Pelletizing kenaf increased its density by at least 390 percent, therefore, reducing both transportation and storage costs. It may be economically advantageous to use available commercial harvesting and processing equipment rather than investing in the development and production of kenaf specific equipment. Appropriate harvesting and pelletizing equipment is readily available throughout the United States. Mobile in the field harvester/separators are being developed, which will cut and then separate the bast and core fibers in the field.

When harvesting kenaf for fiber use, the moisture content and the equipment availability are important considerations. Kenaf can be harvested for fiber when it is dead, due to a killing frost or herbicides, or when it is still growing. The dry standing kenaf can be cut and then chopped, baled or transported as full length stalks. If the kenaf drying and defoliation process is dependent on a killing frost, the harvesting date will vary on the area of the state where the crop is growing and the time required for the kenaf to dry unless artificial drying is used. Much of the land which could be planted to kenaf does not lend itself to late harvest because of weather conditions and soil type.

Actively growing kenaf can be cut and then allowed to dry in the field. 0nce dried, the kenaf can then be chopped, baled or transported as full length stalks. The availability of in the field harvester/separators will add to the harvesting options.

Kenaf is a crop which is normally harvested in late fall or winter, and only once during the year. This presents some unique situations as far as supply and storage are concerned.

Marketing

Additional markets for kenaf as a fiber crop and as a finished product need to be developed. The development of kenaf as a fiber crop depends on several conditions. What happens in the forest industry in the wood and pulp product areas will be a major factor in the development of kenaf into a major industry The development of large stable markets for the raw and finished products must occur before farmers and industry will be willing to invest time and capital on a large scale.

The development of any new industry takes time, capital, scientific research, product research and development, and eventually stable markets. In the kenaf industry part of this development has already happened, but much is yet to be done.

Summary

The United States acceptance of kenaf as a major commercial crop will be strengthened as additional uses for kenaf are established. The increased production, processing and product development work being conducted within private industry state universities and USDA laboratories is encouraging and suggests a bright future for the establishment of kenaf as a commercial crop. However, for kenaf to become a viable alternative agricultural crop, stable markets must be established which will provide farmers with an economic return equal to or surpassing what they now receive for a given crop.

For kenaf to effectively replace products now on the market, it will have to be of equal or better quality than those to be replaced, be readily available to the industry and end users, be easily harvested and h have potential to be economically produced.

Additional agricultural research for tropical countries should include disease control and variety adaptation, along with the evaluation of harvesting systems and the economics appropriate for their country's production areas and products.

Want to know more about growing kenaf or getting kenaf seeds. Contact Dr. Cross at honducopa@yahoo.com.

References

Bagby M.O., R.L. Cunningham, F.G. Touzinsky G.E. Hamerstrand, E.L. Curtis, and B.T. Hofreiter. 1979. Kenaf thermomechanical pulp in newsprint. ( TAPPI/NPFP Committee Progr. Rpt 10. Atlanta, GA.

Clark, T.K, R.L. Cunningham, and I.A. Wolff. 1971. A search for new fiber crops. TAPPI 54:(1)63-65.

Clark, T.F. and I.A. Wolff. 1969. A search for new fiber crops, XI. Compositional characteristics of Illinois kenaf at several population densities and maturities. TAPPI 52:2606- 2116.

Dempsey J.M. 1975. Fiber Crops. The University Presses of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

Dryer, J.F. 1967. Kenaf seed varieties. p. 44-46. Proc. First Conference on Kenaf for Pulp. Gainesville, FL.

Fuller, M.J. and J.C. Dollar. 1994. An economic analysis of kenaf separation. p. 21-22. In: CE. Goforth, M.J. Fuller, and H. Remy (eds.). A summary of kenaf production and product development research, Miss. State Univ. Bul. 1011.

Goforth, C.E. 1994. The evaluation of kenaf as an oil sorbent. p. 25. In: C.E. Goforth, M.J. Fuller, and H. Remy (eds.). A summary of kenaf production and product development research. Miss. State Univ. Bul. 1011.

Killinger, G.B. 1969. Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L. a multi-use crop. Agron. J. 61:734-736.

Kugler, D.E. 1988. Non-wood fiber crops: commercialization of kenaf for newsprint. p. 289-292. In: J. Janick and J.E. Simon (eds.). Advances in new crops. Timber Press, Portland,0R.

Laiche, A.J. and S.E. Newman, 1994. Kenaf core as a container media component for woody landscape plants and greenhouse bedding plants. p. 30. In: C.E. Goforth, M.J. Fuller, and H. Remy (eds.). A summary of kenaf production and product development research. Miss. State Univ. Bul. 1011.

Nieschlag, H.J., G.H. Nelson, I.A. Wolff, and R.E. Perdue, Jr. 1960. A search for new fiber crops. TAPPI 43:193-201.

Ramaswamy, G.N. and C.R. Boyd. 1994. Kenaf as a textile fiber: processing, fiber quality and product development. p. 31-33. In: C.E. Goforth, M.J. Fuller, and H. Remy (eds.). A summary of kenaf pro-

duction and product development research. Miss. State Univ. Bul. 1011.

Scott, A. 1982. Kenaf seed production: 1981-82. p. 60-63. Rio Farms, Inc. Biennial Report for l980-1981 Monte Alto, Texas.

Scott, A.W. Jr. and C.S. Taylor. 1988. Economics of kenaf production in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. p. 292-297. In: J. Janick and J.E. Simon (eds.). Advances in new crops. Timber Press, Port land, OR.

Suriyajantratong, W., R.E. Tucker, R.E. Sigafus and G.E. Mitchell, Jr. 1973. Kenaf and rice straw for sheep. J. Anim. Sci. 37:1251-1254.

Swingle, R.S., A.R. Urias, J.C.Doyle, and R.L. Voigt. 1978. Chemical composition of kenaf forage and its digestibility by lambs and in vitro. J. Anim. Sci. 46:1346-1350.

Tilmon, H.D., R. Taylor, and G. Malone. 1988. Kenaf: an alternative crop for Delaware. p. 301-302. In: Janick and J.E. Simon (eds.). Advances in new crops. Timber Press, Portland, OR

Webber, C.L. III. 1990a. Kenaf production with sewage sludge and fertilizer. p. 15. Proc. Second Annual International Kenaf Assoc. Conf. Tulsa, OK. (abstr.)

Webber, C.L. III. 1990b. The effects of kenaf cultivars and harvest dates on plant growth, protein content, and dry matter yields. p. 147-152. Proc. First Annual International Conf. on New Industrial Crops and Products. Riverside, CA.

Webber, C.L. III and R.E. Bledsoe. 1993. Kenaf: production, harvesting, and products. p. 416-421. In: Janick, J. and Simon, J.E. (eds.). New Crops. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, N.Y.

White, G.A., D.G. Cummins, E.L. whiteley W.T. Fike, J.K. Greig, J.A. Martin, G.B. Killinger, J.J. Higgins, and T.F. Clark. 1970. Cultural and harvesting methods for kenaf. USDA Prod. Res. Report 113. Washington, D.C.

Wilson, ED., T.E. Summers, J.F. Joyner, D.W. Fishler, and C.C. Seale. 1965. 'Everglades 41' and 'Everglades 71', two new varieties of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) for the fiber and seed. Florida Agr. Exp. Stat. Cir. S-168.

Wing, J. M. 1967. Ensilability acceptability and digestibility of kenaf.