Abstract Fiber hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.) has gained renewed interest in the United States as a bast fiber crop used in textiles, nonwovens, and composite materials. Region‐specific production practices are limited due to the crops relatively recent legal status. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of plant population on the growth, morphology, and resulting bast yields of the Chinese fiber hemp variety Yuma and develop appropriate seeding rate recommendations for North Carolina farmers. Field trials were conducted in 2023 and 2024 in Kinston, NC, to evaluate five plant populations ranging from 741,315 to 3,706,575 plants ha −1 . In‐season growth (height and diameter) and harvested stem measurements including stem diameter variability, self‐thinning rates, straw yield, bast fiber yield, and weight lost after degumming were measured. Higher plant populations resulted in reduced stem height and diameter. Straw yield decreased with increasing plant populations in 2023 but was unaffected in 2024. Bast fiber yield response to increasing plant population followed similar quadratic curves in both years, and optimal bast yield occurred between 1.53 and 1.94 million plants ha −1 . Plant population did not affect post‐degumming weight loss in either year. These results help establish more data‐driven production recommendations for regional textile fiber hemp growers.
Salazar et al. (Fri,) studied this question.