WP 1 Task 1.2 : Potential of bast fibr e s crops Task leader: Krzysztof HELLER

C R O P S T O I N D U S T R YC R O P S T O I N D U S T R Y

WP 1Task 1.2 : Potential of bast fibres crops

Task leader: Krzysztof HELLER

Crops2IndustryCrops2Industry“Non-food Crops-to-Industry

schemes in EU27”


WP1 Non-food crops (CRES, UNIBO, INF&MP, NCPRI, ACCIONA)

The main target of this WP is to explore the potential of non-food crops, which can be domestically grown in EU27 countries, for

selected industrial application.

Fiber crops

INF&MP – bast fibers

UNIBO – fruit and leaf fibers

CRES – seed and wood fibers

2

Task 1.2


1. Objectives

WP 1 - Potential of non-food crops

Task 1.2 Fibre crops:

1.Fibre flax

2.Hemp

3.Kenaf

4.Nettle


Flax (Linum Usitatissimum)

Diameter of elementary fibre: 15 – 22 [µm]:


Hemp (Cannabis sativa)

Diameter of elementary fibre:

17 – 24 [µm]:


Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus)

• Asia• Africa• America• Europe



Nettle (Urica dioica)

• Asia• Africa• America• Europe



1. Objectives


Task 1.2 Fibre crops (topics):

1.Plants morphology and anatomy

2.Area of origin and current cultivation

3.Growing conditions – input requirements

4.Logistics (harvesting – handling) until the industrial plant gate

5.Yield

6.Quality

7.Applications; current- potential

8.Factors restricting growth and yielding potential

9.Research gaps


2. Progress of work

1.Fibre flax – ok.!

2.Hemp – ok. !

3.Kenaf – first version for consultation

4.Nettle – first version for consultation


3. Results


Task 1.2 Fibre crops (topics):

1.Bast fibers plants anatomy

2.Area of origin and current cultivation

3.Growing conditions – input requirements

4.Logistics (harvesting – handling) until the industrial plant gate

5.Yield

6.Quality

7.Applications; current- potential

8.Factors restricting growth and yielding potential

9.Research gaps


Topic 1. Fibre flax morphology & anatomy

11

SeedStem (morphology and anatomy)LeafRoot systemInflorescence, FlowerFruits


Fibre flax anatomy

parenchyma

cortex

epidermis

xylem

fibre bundles

meristem tissue

pith channel

Fibre flax anatomy

Fiber is present it the stem in the form of rings of fiber bundles.

Transverse section through a fibre flax stem


Topic 2 Area of origin and current cultivation of bast fibrous plants


Ad Topic 3. Growing conditions of bast plants – input requirements

•Varieties•Place in rotations•Soil requirements•Weather conditions•Soil cultivation•Fertilization•Seed sowing (time, technique)•Post emergent cultivation – plant protection•Harvesting (time, methods)


No. Variety Country of origin No. Variety Country of origin

1 Ada RO 17 Cosmin RO

2 Adria RO 18 Dangiai LT

3 Agatha BE, CZ, FR, NL 19 Delphine NL

4 Alin RO 20 Diane FR

5 Alizee FR, LT 21 Drakkar FR, LT

6 Amina BE, FR, NL 22 Electra BE, CZ, FR, NL, SK

7 Aretha FR, NL 23 Elise NL,

8 Ariane NL 24 Escalina NL, SK

9 Artemida PL, LT 25 Evelin NL

10 Atena PL 26 Ferdinand RO

11 Bazil RO 27 Helmi FI

12 Betalisa RO 28 Hermes BE, FR, NL

13 Bonet CZ 29 Ilona NL, CZ, SK

14 Bonita BE, FR, NL 30 Jitka CZ

15 Caesar Augustus NL, 31 Jordan CZ, SK

16 Codruta RO 32 Josephine NL

List of fibrous flax cultivars enrolled on the Register of European Union.


List of fibrous flax cultivars enrolled on the Register of European Union.

No. Variety Country of origin33 Kastyciai LT34 Laura NL, AT53 Selena PL54 Selin PT55 Snaigiai LT56 Sofie BE, FR, NL57 Sumuleu RO58 Super SK59 Suzanne BE, FR, NL60 Tabor CZ61 Temida PL62 Texa SK63 Vasilelin RO64 Venica CZ65 Vesta FR, NL66 Viking NL67 Viola NL


Environmental conditions needed for fibre flax growing• temperature,

•water (precipitation, soil, air humidity)•soil•forecrop - (position in the Rotation Cycle)

Fibre flax Linseed (oil flax)

Topic 3. Growing conditions of bast plants – input requirements


Fibre flax weather condition needs Water

The effect of soil moisture on fibre flax plants growing

10% Field Water Capacity 15 % FWC 20 % FWC 30 % FWC 35 % FWC 45 % FWC (FWC)


Position in the Rotation Cycle

• forecrop – the best for flax are cereals (oats, wheat)

•Fusarium wilt – flax after 6-7 years at the same field

• soil – the best for flax are fertile soils in a high culture, medium compacted and compacted, high humus clays and clay sandy soils, of soil valuation class at least IVa,

•the risk of lodging is very high in the rainy weather and at high level of N fertilisation


Optimisation of cultivation technologies treatments:

sowing density – 24-26 million of seeds per 1 ha (120-130 kg/ha),

right-on-time and quality of plant protection treatments of flax plants (e.g.. earlier application of herbicides allows for decreasing of a preparation doses),

time of flax pulling – beginning of green-yellow maturity of flax,

correct dew-retting of flax

C R O P S T O I N D U S T R YC R O P S T O I N D U S T R Y21BBCH 00 10 11 12 14 16 36 55 65 75 83 85

TRIPS

FLAX FLEA BEETLE

HARVESTING

WEEDS

DISEASES

DISEASES

Post emergent cultivation – plant protection


Fibre bundles very well formed

Flax fibres well formedgain x 1000

(Stems are yellow to 1/3 of height, leafs fallen off from the bottom to 1/4 of height. Bolls of flax begin to turn yellow)

BBCH 83 - green-yellow maturity of flax

Time of flax pulling - beginning of green-yellow maturity of flax


Topic 4. Logistic (harvesting – handling) until industrial plant gate

Technologies of harvesting and handling fibrous flax

(Machines for harvesting - handling)


Topic 5. Yields

1.Yielding potential of fibre flax in Europe

2.Practical (commercial) yielding of fibre flax in

Europe

3.The reason, why the practical (commercial)

yielding of flax is lower than potential

4.The recomendation, how to increase the

practical yielding


Specification Belarus Czech

Rep.

France The

Netherlands

Poland Russia

Total yield [t/ ha] 12.48 8.27 11.41 6.1 c/d 11.75 7.5-8.0

Ginned (deseeded) straw yield [t/ha] 11.58 8.00

c/d

10.76 6.0 10.30 5-6

Seed yield [t/ha] 2.01 1.27 0.55 0.1 0.90 1.8

Total fibre content in ginned straw yield [%] 43.7 37.6 33.32 40.0 22.0 45

Long fibre content in ginned straw yield [%] 26.0 24.1 26.76 22.5 16.9 24

Short fibre content in ginned straw yield [%] 17.7 n/a 6.56 17.5 5.1 11

Yield of total fibre [t/ha] 5.060 2.51 3.584 2.4 2.266 2. 5

Yield of long fibre [t/ha] 3.011 1.66 2.879 1.35 1.740 1. 6

Yield of short fibre [t/ha] 2.049 0.85 0.705 1.05 0.525 0.9

Cultivated area average [ha] 75 000 4 822 70 8831 4 516.71 5 0913 111 9304

Potential yields of fibrous flax in flax producing countries in Europe

Topic 5. Yield


. Commercial yields of fibre flax in Western and Eastern Europe

Specification

Years2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Average

Eastern Europe

WesternEurope

Eastern Europe

WesternEurope

Eastern Europe

WesternEurope

Eastern Europe

WesternEurope

Eastern Europe

WesternEurope

Eastern Europe

WesternEurope

Eastern Europe

WesternEurope

Eastern Europe

WesternEurope

1Ginned straw

yield [t/ha]4.49 5.40 3.23 5.20 3.57 4.95 3.85 4.45 3.56 4.75 3.46 48.00 36.20 56.0 36.83 49.9

2Seed yield

[t/ha]0.82 1.00 0.60 0.98 0.70 0.92 0.80 0.83 0.65 0.89 0.60 0.90 0.73 1.05 0.70 0.93

3

Total fibre content in

ginned straw yield [%]

30.00 35.30 30.20 36.10 33.60 33.90 31.10 31.80 30.80 31.20 28.80 32.30 30.70 32.10 30.74 33.50

4

Long fibre content in


18.90 22.60 18.50 25.00 22.40 21.80 19.50 21.30 19.60 20.60 18.70 20.80 20.70 25 19.76 22.50

5

Short fibre content in


11.10 12.70 11.70 11.10 11.20 12.10 11.60 10.40 11.20 10.50 10.10 11.50 11.00 7.10 11.13 11.00

6Yield of total fibre

[t/ha]1.350 1.905 0.980 1.875 1.200 1.680 1.200 1.415 1.100 1.480 1.000 1.550 1.150 1.800 1.134 1.675

7Yield of long fibre

[t/ha]0.850 1.220 0.600 1.300 0.800 1.080 0.750 0.950 0.700 0.980 0.650 1.000 0.750 1.400 0.723 1.130

8Yield of short

fibre [t/ha]0.500 0.685 0.380 0.575 0.400 0.600 0.450 0.465 0.400 0.500 0.350 0.550 0.400 0.400 0.411 0.545

9Cultivation area

[ha]5 200 15 315 3 000 19 306 6 345 19 823 6 000 18 670 4 243 16 354 2 056 14 630 1 991 12 030 4 119 16 590

Source: The data in the above table are based on the data achieved in the commercial scale, in the flax industries of Poland and Belgium.


Topic 5. Yields

Factors restricting fibre flax optimal yielding capacity

Objective factors:•Climatic (weather) conditions•Soil

Anthropogenic factors:• Level of agronomy

•forecrop – the best one for flax are cereals (oats, wheat),•sowing material – certified; seed dressing is the practice which enables the effective fibrous flax cultivation•sowing date – a simple positive correlation was found; the earlier sowing, the higher yield of straw, fiber and seed of fiber flax ,•sowing density – 24-26 million of seeds per 1 ha (120-130 kg/ha),•sowing quality - depth 2 cm, row spacing 8-10 cm•level of weed infestation– it was found that higher infestation with weeds causes decrease in number of flax plants per square unit resulting from higher thinning. •right-in-time and quality of plant protection treatments of flax plants (e.g. earlier application of herbicides allows for decreasing of a preparation),•time of flax pulling – beginning of green-yellow maturity of flax,•controlled dew-retting of flax.


Topic 6. Quality

The following quality parameters of raw materials were evaluaeted in INF&MP:

•Long flax fibre for hackled yarns•Short flax fibre for carded yarns•Flax wool-like homomorphic fibre for blended yarns•Flax cotton-like fibre for blended yarns•Green decorticated fibre•Flax fibre used in disinfection mats

The expectations regarding flax fibre quality features depend on the final destination of fibre.


Topic 6. Quality

Raw materialFibre length[mm]

Fibre thinness

[tex]

Flax long scutched fibre

300-1400 4,0-6,0

Flax hackled scutched fibre

350-700 1,4-3,3

Parameters of flax scutched and hackled fibre

Fibre thinnes [tex] - linear mass (shows the mass of 1000 m in grams)


Topic 6. Quality

Raw materialFibre length

[mm]Fibre thinness

[tex]

Scutching tow 80-140 3,5-5,5

Matted tow 140-250 4,5-6,5

Parameters of flax tow

Fibre thinnes [tex] - linear mass (shows the mass of 1000 m in grams)


Topic 7. Application current - potential


Non-deseeded raw strawBiomass for bio-fuel

Deseeded raw straw Seeds

Dew-retted straw Shives & dust

Technical fiber Short fiber scutched

tows

Short fiber matted tows

Special carded yarn

Weaving Carded yarn

Bedlinen fabrics

Decorative fabrics

Cottonized fiber

Special carded yarn

Weaving carded yarn

Ropes

Long scutched fiber Special carded yarn Cleaning material

Combing waste fiber

Carded yarn

Bedding materialInsulating matarial

Paper productionFelts

Threads

Technical and decorative fabrics

Nets and others Ropes

Long combed fiberSpecial combed yarn

Spinning waste material

Weaving carded yarn

Paper production

Bedding material

Nonwovens

Nets and other

Sowing seed

32


Topic 8. Factors restricting growth and yielding potential

•High differentiation of flax cultivation conditions (weather, cultivation technology) and dew retting (weather) is the factor limiting obtaining high lots of good quality fibre•Average area of flax field in EU is too small to obtain high lots of good quality fibre•The main factor limiting yielding capacity of fibrous flax in the EU is global warming (rainfalls and high air temperatures)•Lack of fibrous flax cultivars resistant to drought and high temperatures•Lack of flax cultivation technology adapted to climate change (high temperatures, drought)


Topic 9. Research gaps

Basic research

•Development of Linum gene map, identification of genes responsible for fibre yield and its quality

Applied research•Breeding of flax cultivars with higher resistance to drought and high temperature

•Flax cultivation technologies suitable for global warming

•Environmental friendly methods of fibrous flax cultivation

•Optimization of dew retting methods of flax


5. Difficulties encounteredWP 1 - Potential of non-food crops

Ad. 6 Quality – it was hard to divided what should belong to WP1 and what to WP3. We decided that the main material will be presented in WP3

ad. 7 Applications; current- potential – the similar situation as in topic 6. It was hard to divided what should belong to WP 1 and what to WP3. We decided that the main material will be presented In WP 3



Kenaf - we decided to send draft raport to KEFI and to National Energy Research Centre, Amman, Jordan for consultation

Nettle - draft raport was sent to KEFI for estimation



Nettle –problems with some topics particularly with:

• Logistics (harvesting – handling) until the industrial plant gate

• Yield

• Quality

• Applications; current- potential

• Factors restricting growth and yielding potential


Plans for the next 6 months -Gantt chart for INF&MP

Description of work10.10.2010

15.12.2010

05.01.2011

30.01.2011

Final version of WP 1 rapport for fibre flax, hemp

Final version of WP 1 rapport for Kenaf

Final version of WP 1 rapport for Nettle

Raport for WP 1 rapport task 1.2.1 Bast fibre crops

38


Thank you for attention !

Documents

WP 1 Task 1.2 : Potential of bast fibr e s crops Task leader: Krzysztof HELLER