 |
|
In both its cultivation and uses, hemp is considered an exceptionally environmentally friendly crop.
- Hemp requires little or no pesticides as it is naturally pest resistant, as has been known to reduce pests in future crops, when grown in rotation (soybean cyst nematode populations have been documented to have been suppressed by 80% when grown after hemp)
- Hemp is also a natural herbicide known for its ability to smother weeds when grown at a density suitable for producing high quality bast fiber.
- Hemp also has a lower net nutrient requirement than other common farm crops, since it can return 60-70% of the nutrients it takes from the soil when dried in the field. However, prior to the nutrient recycling, hemp extracts more nutrients per hectare than grain crops due to its fast biomass production.
- Its deep root system is also very beneficial as it is effective in preventing erosion, removing toxins, providing a disease break, and helping the soil structure by aerating the soil for future crops, when it's grown in rotation with other crops.
- Hemp is also a particularly high yield fibre crop. In fact, an acre of hemp produces more biomass than most other crops. As a result hemp can be used effectively in many applications as an alternative to wood or fossil fuels. For example, hemp can be used as a renewable, low polluting source of biomass fuel, or hemp can be used to make paper and fibreboard.
|
|
|
