While Australian-bred hemp grain and fiber varieties have proven their mettle in irrigated fields, upcoming trials will look at how those genetics perform as dryland winter crops.
The trials, to commence in Western Australia next month, will compare two local varieties, dual-purpose Ruby and grain-specific Bundy, against three from China, according to Brisbane-based Hemp Farms Australia (HFA), which donated the Australian seeds.
The trials are under the direction of agronomist John Muir.
Proven under irrigation
“For both grain and fiber yield, the Australian-bred varieties generally outpaced the overseas options for irrigated farmland,” said HFA CEO Lauchlan Grout. “Now we want to find an optimium planting window for southern Australian dryland farms.”
HFA holds an export license for cultivation seed through Australia’s Office of Drug Control.
Dryland winter crops – those farmed without the aid of irrigation during the cooler, wetter months of the year (typically April to October) – make up a substantial portion of Australia’s overall agricultural sector.
Vast potential
Establishing the viability of the Australian varieties could open up a potential 25 million hectares for hemp farming, offering Australian growers an alternative for commercial production of grain and fiber, and a useful break crop, according to Grout.
The trials, at Albany in the southeastern corner of the state, will differ from previous trials in aspects of weed control, plant population and row spacing, according to Muir. He said planting density will be halved in relation to irrigated trials – from 100 plants per square meter to 50.
Hemp has been trialed in all six Australian states and the country’s Northern Territory to capture key performance data focused mainly on food and fiber production.