Feasibility and Application of Industrial Hemp Fiber as an Agricultural Substrate Incorporated in Growing Mixes

PROJECT SUMMARY - ABSTRACT OF USDA-NIFA-SBIR GRANT APPLICATIONTITLE: Feasibility and Application of Industrial Hemp Fiber as an Agricultural SubstrateIncorporated in Growing MixesThis research is to advance the use ofnew farm produced Industrial Hemp biomass as acomponent for applications in agriculture specifically as a horticultural growth media and soilamendment. It will be conducted by PittMoss LLC a growing substrates manufacturingcompany in Ambridge PA in cooperation with Dr. Ryan W. Dickson at the University ofArkansas and Dr. Charles L. Bethke a Horticultural Soils Consultant.The work is designed to advance the production and use of locally grown industrial hemp andemploy processing systems to make agricultural substrates specifically formatted as horticulturalgrowing media and media amendments.Extensive evaluations will be conducted. First measurements will be made on fiber make-up andthe effects of mechanical milling in formatting the structure. Then blending the substrate intogrowing media to compete with and/or replace sphagnum peat. The hemp fiber containinggrowing media will then be rigorously evaluated at two facilities to examine crop growthperformance production management and environmental impact. It is expected that thisresearch will lead to boosting rural economies and reducing environmental impacts by reducingmining and importing of sphagnum peat improving growers' ability to foster goodenvironmental stewardship and increasing efficiencies in crop production.It is anticipated that these findings will lead to future investigations into commercialization andsystematic applications for sound local sustainable agricultural enterprises fostering improvedenvironmental stewardship and wise use of local agricultural resources.