Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Hemp (Cannabis sativa L) is one of the oldest annual fiber crops cultivated throughout human history. In recent years, the importance of hemp has increased due to its several applications, highlighting its potential for comprehensive utilization across various sectors. Hemp is cultivated primarily for its seeds and fibers. While research on the hemp plant has led to significant advancements, it is seen that the biology of the plant is not sufficiently understood. Moreover, addressing the challenges encountered during the harvesting of hemp for seed and fiber purposes requires further investigation. Studies are also needed to determine plant characteristics in terms of both variety and gender. The study aimed to determine the physical properties of hemp plants. The stems of male and female hemp plants were divided into three sections along their length: lower, middle, and upper regions. Samples measuring 25.4 mm in length were collected from each section, and measurements of thickness, inner diameter, and outer diameter were conducted. The same samples were subjected to axial and lateral compression tests to determine load, elongation, and energy values. According to the results, the thickness of hemp ranged between 2.628-2.347 mm, the inner diameter between 4.452-3.986 mm, and the outer diameter between 9.708-8.861 mm. The results showed that male hemp plants have an increase in thickness, inner diameter, and outer diameter values from the lower to the upper region compared to female hemp plants. The compressive loads in the axial and lateral directions were found to be higher in male hemp plants compared to female hemp plants. Moreover, elongation and energy requirements during axial and lateral compressions showed trends consistent with the load values across the stem samples. The results of this study emphasize the necessity of understanding the physical properties of male and female hemp plants for the effective design of harvesting and processing machinery. Additionally, recognizing the male and female characteristics of hemp was found to play a crucial role in determining appropriate cutting heights and forward speeds during harvesting.
Source: Agriculture
Author: Hüseyin Duran
Institution: Ondokuz Mayıs University
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
OpenAlex ID: W4409155458