Oral Presentation Fourth Biennial Australian Industrial Hemp Conference 2024

The industrial Hemp Variety Trial (IHVT) is a 3-year program established in 2021 with the aim of providing growers with information on the performance of hemp varieties across major Australian production environments. The Victorian IHVT is one of nine trial sites and is located on the Agriculture Victoria Hamilton Smartfarm (latitude, -37.825; longitude 142.075). Eleven varieties were evaluated at either two or three times of sowings (TOS) in the first 2 years of the project with four varieties (Henola, Katani, CFX-2 and CRS-1) common to both years (Table 1). Varieties were sourced from four countries (Australia, Canada, France and Poland) and ranged in sex expression (monoecious and dioecious), purpose (grain or dual purpose), maturity, height and yield potential. The trials were replicated four times with TOS the main block and varieties randomised within each TOS. In 2021 crops were sown on October 21, November 18 and December 8, and in 2022, on November 9 and December 20. The soil type is a chromosol and irrigation was applied so that water was non limiting for crop growth.

Varieties matured between 77 (Katani) and 104 (Henola and Ferimon 12) days after sowing (DAS) in 2021-2022 and between 80 (Katani) to 154 (Ruby) DAS in 2022-2023. The later sown crops consistently matured quicker than earlier sowings. Except Ruby, the monoecious varieties matured earlier than the dioecious and the later maturing crops were generally taller. Mean grain yield in 2021-2022 was 1.6 t/ha (range Katani, 0.2 to Henola, 3.1 t/ha) and 2.1 t/ha (range Katani, 0.9 to X-59, 3.1 t/ha) in 2022-2023. Mean oil content was 29% and protein 25% across both seasons and were greater in the second year, likely due to better nutrition and weed control. The four common varieties were consistent in ranking across both seasons providing confidence in variety selection for the region.

Table 1: Varieties evaluated in the Industrial Hemp Variety Trials at Hamilton

Acknowledgements

The trial is co-funded by AgriFutures Australia and Agriculture Victoria.  Jamie Smith and Greg Mason are thanked for technical expertise and Andrew van Burgel for biometric support.