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Title: KENAF HARVESTING AND PROCESSING

Author
item BLEDSOE, R. E. - LADONIA MARKET CENTER
item BLEDSOE, V. K. - LADONIA MARKET CENTER
item Webber Iii, Charles

Submitted to: New Crops National Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The increased diversity of harvesting and processing methods have strengthened the potential avenues for commercial development of kenaf. Researchers, producers, and businesses have developed and adapted harvesting and processing systems that either use locally available equipment, increasing the harvesting and transportation efficiency, or developed processing systems for specific kenaf markets. The purpose of this review is to summarize these diverse harvesting and processing systems. Research and development has moved from the simple hand harvesting and retting of kenaf bast fibers to harvesting equipment specifically designed for kenaf and new high tech uses for the fibers. The natural low density of kenaf stalks has motivated the industry to produce numerous equipment adaptations and unique approaches to increase the density to optimize the handling, storage, and transportation efficiency of fthe kenaf plant material. As the processing of kenaf increased the densit of the plant material the commercial applications for the kenaf fibers also increased. The diverse harvesting and processing possibilities need to be correctly understood in order to select the optimum harvesting and processing system best adapted to the commercial uses of kenaf in the United States and around the world.