Performance and mycorrhizal colonization of industrial hemp varieties under regenerative organic systems in northeastern region

Authors: DINESH, PANDAY - Rodale Institute; Heller, Wade; Carrara, Joseph; BHUSAL, NIKITA - University Of Florida; OMODING, NICHOLAS - Rodale Institute; CATON, TARA - Rodale Institute; SMITH, ANDREW - Rodale Institute; GHALEHGOLABBEHBAHANI, ARASH - Rodale Institute

Submitted to: Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/4/2025
Publication Date: 3/27/2025
Citation: Dinesh, P., Heller, W., Carrara, J.E., Bhusal, N., Omoding, N., Caton, T., Smith, A., Ghalehgolabbehbahani, A. 2025. Performance and mycorrhizal colonization of industrial hemp varieties under regenerative organic systems in northeastern region. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 2:e70091. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70091.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70091

Interpretive Summary: Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a versatile crop with applications in fiber, seeds, and medicine. Recent legalization has renewed interest in industrial hemp in the United States for fiber production; however, development and optimization of growing practices for this crop are lacking. In this study, a two-year field trial was conducted during 2022-2023 at Rodale Institute - Pocono Organics Research Center, Blakeslee, PA, to evaluate the performance of four hemp varieties under regenerative organic growing practices. In addition, root associations of these plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were characterized to identify favorable symbiotic relationships. Overall, AMF colonization was consistent across the hemp varieties tested, and two species of AMF, Rhizophagus intraradices and R. irregularis, were detected in a majority of the root samples, indicating these species may be important for hemp nutrient uptake and growth. Further research is required to explore the impact of mycorrhizal colonization on hemp production under varying nutrient conditions for sustainable production.

Technical Abstract: Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a versatile crop with applications in fiber, seeds, and medicine. Recent legalization has renewed interest in industrial hemp in the United States, particularly in fiber production, which has a critical role in carbon (C) sequestration and various industries, including textiles and construction. A two-year field study (2022-2023) was conducted at Rodale Institute - Pocono Organics Research Center, Blakeslee, PA; USA, evaluating the performance of four hemp varieties (MS 77, Futura 75, Santhica 27, and Han NE) under regenerative organic systems. Seed rates were considered as 73 kg ha-1 for Santhica 27 and Futura 75, 135 kg ha-1 for MS 77, and 270 kg ha-1 for Han NE, targeting a plant population of 1 million plant per acreage across varieties. Data on canopy cover, plant height, yields (biomass, stem, leaf, and flower), and cannabinoids were collected to assess the effects of variety and environmental conditions on growth and yield. Root samples from 2023 were also analyzed for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization. Han NE demonstrated the highest growth, yields, canopy cover, followed by MS 77, with favorable performance in warmer conditions in 2023. Additionally, AMF colonization was consistent across varieties, with MS 77 (45.37%) showing the highest colonization, suggesting enhanced nutrient uptake and stress tolerance. Among the four varieties investigated, Han NE and MS 77 are recommended for fiber hemp production in this region. Further research is required to explore the impact of mycorrhizal colonization on hemp production under varying nutrient conditions for sustainable production.