Supply and Yield of Kenaf in the Southern U.S., 1998 North America Nonwood Fiber Symposium Proceedings

Modern research for alternative fibers for the U.S. was initiated during World War II as a result of disruption of jute (Corchorus sp) and abaca (Musa textilis) exports from southeast Asia, and also to replace hemp (Cannabis sativa) whose production was outlawed in 1933 (1). The USDA evaluated numerous crops with the potential of supplying industrial fiber, with kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) being one of the more promising. Research has continued since that time, and kenaf has been the subject of “rediscovery” in 1957-60, 1967-70, 1977-8 1, and 1986-89 (2).

Kenaf is a warm-season annual row crop well suited to the U.S. “Cotton Belt”. It is related to cotton, a member of the plant family Malvacae. Two leaf types are common, one that is deeply divided and looks like hemp/marijuana and an undivided (juvenile) leaf that looks somewhat like cotton (Gossyppium sp). Fiber derived from the plant originate from the stalk itself; relatively long fiber aggregates from the bark known as bast, and shorter woody fibers from the central part of the stem (known as core).

While research on kenaf has continued off-and-on since WW II, there was an increased interest during the late 1980’s with the establishment of the Kenaf Agricultural Research Consortium (2). This renewed interest was enhanced by an increase in pulp wood prices, a decrease in soybean and corn returns, an increased public desire for non-wood paper sources and predicted global shortage of fiber. Traditionally, interest in kenaf has been tied closely to the pulp industry. Indeed, it was the increase in pulp prices in the early 1990’s that was the primary driving force behind the interest in kenaf in Mississippi. However, it should be mentioned that the objective of Mississippi’s interest in kenaf is not to compete with pulp wood, but to enhance pulp quality and produce products that wood cannot. For this reason, the focus of the MSU/MAFES research was to establish multiple markets for kenaf To accomplish this it was decided that separation of the core from the bark would maximize the markets of the crop as a whole, there by helping to stabilize demand and indirectly supply.