This document is an assignment submitted by Muhammad Sameer about hemp and sunhemp. It provides detailed information on the scientific names, origins, cultivation methods, morphology, harvesting processes, and uses of both plants. Hemp is grown for its strong fibers which are used to make products like rope and canvas. Sunhemp is also cultivated primarily for its fiber, which is similar in strength to hemp, and was traditionally used to make ropes, nets, and mats. Both plants have valuable industrial and agricultural applications.

1. ASSIGNMENT :
HEMP & SUNHEMP
SUBMITTED TO:
DR.GHULAM MUHAYUDIN
SUBMITTED BY:
MUHAMMAD SAMEER
ROLL NO:
FA19C1BA 320
SEMESTER:
6TH (PBG)

2. HEMP INTRODUCTION:
 Scientific Name:
Cannabis
Sativa
 Chromosomal No:
2n= 20
 Family:
Cannabacae

3. History & Origin:
 Hemp originated in Central Asia.
 Hemp cultivation for fibre was recorded in China as early as
2800 BCE.
 It was practiced in the Mediterranean countries of Europe early in
the Christian era, spreading throughout the rest of Europe during
the Middle Ages.
 It was planted in Chile in the 1500s and a century later in North
America.

4. CULTIVATION:
 Hemp is grown in temperate zones as an annual cultivated from seed and can
reach a height of up to 5 metres (16 feet).
 Crops grow best in sandy loam with good drainage and require average monthly
rainfall of at least 65 mm (2.5 inches) throughout the growing season.
 Crops cultivated for fibre are densely sowed and produce plants averaging 2–3
metres (6–10 feet) tall with almost no branching.
 Plants grown for oilseed are planted farther apart and are shorter and many-
branched.
 In fibre production, maximum yield and quality are obtained by harvesting soon
after the plants reach maturity, indicated by the full blossoms and freely shedding
pollen of the male plants

5. MORPHOLOGY:
 The hemp plant is a stout, aromatic,
erect annual herb.
 The slender canelike stalks are hollow
except at the tip and base.
 The leaves are compound with palmate
shape, and the flowers are small and
greenish yellow.

6. MORPHOLOGY:
 Pollen-producing flowers form
many-branched clusters on
staminate, or male plants.
 Seed-producing flowers form
elongate spikelike clusters
growing on the pistillate, or
female, plants.

7. HARVESTING:
 In fibre production, maximum yield and quality are obtained by harvesting
soon after the plants reach maturity, indicated by the full blossoms and
freely shedding pollen of the male plants.
 Although sometimes pulled up by hand, plants are more often cut off
about 2.5 cm (1 inch) above the ground.

8. FIBER EXTRACTION:
 Fibres are obtained by subjecting the stalks to a series of operations—
including retting, drying, and crushing—and a shaking process that
completes separation from the woody portion, releasing the long, fairly
straight fibre, or line.
 The fibre strands, usually longer than 1.8 metres (5.8 feet), are made of
individual cylindrical cells with an irregular surface..

9. FIBER STRUCTURE:
 The fibre, longer and less flexible than flax, is usually yellowish, greenish,
or a dark brown or gray and, because it is not easily bleached to
sufficiently light shades, is rarely dyed. It is strong and durable and is
used for cordage.
 The fibre strands, usually longer than 1.8 metres (5.8 feet), are made of
individual cylindrical cells with an irregular surface.

10. USES OF HEMP:
 It is strong and durable and is used for cordage—e.g., twine, yarn,
rope, cable, and string—and for artificial sponges and such coarse
fabrics as sacking (burlap) and canvas.
 Some specially processed hemp has a whitish colour and attractive
lustre and is used to make fabric similar to linen for clothing.
Hemp textiles can be used to make shoes.
 Hemp fibre is used to make bioplastics that are recyclable and
biodegradable, depending on the formulation.

11. USES:
 The edible seeds contain about 30 percent oil and are a source
of protein, fibre, and magnesium.
 Shelled hemp seeds, sometimes called hemp hearts, are sold as a
health food and may be eaten raw; they are commonly sprinkled on salads
or blended with fruit smoothies.
 Hemp seed milk is used as an alternative to dairy milk in drinks and
recipes. The oil obtained from hemp seed can be used to make paints,
varnishes, soaps, and edible oil with a low smoke point.

12. SUNHEMP PLANT
 Scientific Name:
Crotalaria Juncea
 Chromosomal No:
2n= 8
 Family:
Fabaceae

13. HISTORY & ORIGIN:
 Crotalaria juncea originated from India and has been cultivated there since the
earlier times of agriculture. It was first reported in Sanskrit literature in 400 BCE
(Sarkar et al., 2015).
 Sunn hemp is now widely cultivated in many tropical and subtropical areas in the
world, such as India, Bangladesh, Brazil, and even in cold temperate steppes
(Cook et al., 2005).
 In its main area of cultivation in India, sunn hemp is found from 17°N to 30°N and
grows at altitudes between sea level and 1500 m, where average annual
temperature ranges between 15-27.5°C.
 In Brazil, it grows from the Amazon belt to 22.5°S where the average annual
temperature range is 18-27°C.

14. CULTIVATION:
 Crotalaria juncea is propagated by seeds under moist and frost-free conditions,
sowing periods varying upon location and final use of sunn hemp.
 As a green manure, sunn hemp is mainly grown during the rainy season. Sunn hemp
should be preferably sown in a well-prepared, fertilized, weeded, seedbed to a depth
of 2-3 cm.
 Seeds can be broadcast or sown in rows. They germinate within 3 days under
favourable conditions. Sunn hemp is a fast growing species that suppresses weeds
by shading them out once sufficient height is reached .
 When grown for fibre, sunn hemp should be sown at higher seed rate in order to
promote erect growth, stem elongation and high quality fibre.

15. MORPHOLOGY:
 Crotalaria juncea is an annual erect shrubby
herbaceous legume growing to a height of 1-4 m.
 It is strongly taprooted and has several lateral roots.
Sunn hemp is a many-branched species. The stems
are up to 2 cm in diameter, cylindrical and ribbed.
 The leaves are spirally arranged along the stems,
hairy, simple, oblong-lanceolate or elliptical in shape.
 The fruit is a cylindrical, many seeded, hairy pod, light
brown when mature, about 3-6 cm long x 1-2 cm in
diameter. The seeds are cordiform, 6 mm long, dark
brown to black in colour.

16. HARVESTING & FIBER EXTRACTION:
 For grain purpose, harvesting is carried out 150 days after sowing. (From
mid-October to early November).
 When crop is raised for green manure purpose, 45-60 days after sowing
buried crop in soil.
 The main portion of the stem is left to dry on the ground during 1 to 6
days, depending on places, so that it shed its leaves and becomes ready
for retting.
 In some areas, stems are left up to 15 days on the ground and retting
occurs naturally thanks to morning dew

17. FIBER STRUCTURE:
 Sunn fibre is lustrous, with a whitish, gray, or yellow
colour.
 The fibre strands, about 1 to 1.5 metres (3.3 to 5 feet)
long, are composed of individual fibre cells,
cylindrically shaped and with striated surface
markings.
 Sunn fibre is almost as strong as hemp and more
durable than jute.
 It increases in strength when wet and is fairly resistant
to mildew.

18. USES OF SUNHEMP:
 Sunn hemp, like hemp (Cannabis sativa),
is mainly grown as a fibre crop that was
much used in the traditional manufacture
of ropes, strings, twines, floor mat, and
fishing nets.
 Sunn hemp foliage can be used as a
protein source to supplement poor quality
roughage.
 Raw seeds are toxic and can not be fed to
cattle without prior boiling.