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Kenaf is a warm-season annual row crop well suited to the U.S. "Cotton Belt". It is related to cotton; therefore, a member of the plant family Malvacae (Mallow). Two leaf types are common; one that is deeply divided and looks like hemp/marijuana and an undivided (juvenile) leaf shape that looks somewhat like cotton (Gossyppium sp). Fiber derived from the plant originates 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.
Click to enlarge
Harvesting Kenaf
Harvest is accomplished by utilizing a
forage harvester that cuts and "chops" the whole stalk, and then
blows the crop into a boll buggy that is positioned beside or the behind
the harvester. Fiber length can be adjusted by adding or subtracting
knives from the cutting cylinder. The kenaf is then placed in a
module. The kenaf can be used as whole-stalk or transported to the
separation facility, where the bast and core are separated. Other
harvesting techniques employ cubing the kenaf. This is accomplished in the
same manner, however the kenaf is dumped into a hopper that feeds a
field-side cuber. The cubes are then transported to the processing
facility.
Kenaf must be frost killed in Mississippi before harvest can occur.
This creates a problem because Mississippi does not receive a killing
frost until mid-December, normally. By this time the winter rains
have set in, making timely entry into the field nearly impossible.
However, research is being conducted at Miss. State to rectify this
problem.
The Apparel Search
Company wants to give special thanks to Wes
Graham for providing wonderful information on Kenaf.
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