Impacts of traditional field retting of hemp on soil organic carbon and the soil microbial community

Abstract: 

This study investigates the impact of field retting industrial hemp on soil carbon and microbial  communities. 

Key Findings: 

• The plots subjected to high-density retting, sequestered the most carbon compared to low density retting and no retting plots. 

o Suggests potential for field retting with hemp to mitigate soil carbon losses associated  with the harvest 

• Microbial communities showed greater fungal abundance and higher fungi-to-bacteria ratios in  retted soils. 

Context: 

• Experiment took place at St. Catharine College in Washington Country (in pasture 40 years prior  to experiment), Kentucky and then was relocated to Kentucky State University, Harold R. Benson  Research and Demonstration Farm (used to grow organic grain and oilseed crops 7 years prior to  study) 

• Fiber Cultivar used: Futura 75 (European), seeded at a rate of approximately 67kg ha-1, planted to  a depth of 0.64cm with a row spacing of approximately 18cm. 

Correspondence  

Shawn T. Lucas 

College of Agriculture, Community, and the Sciences, Kentucky State Univ., Frankfort, KY 40601,  USA. 

Email: shawn.lucas@kysu.edu

Lucas, S.T., Silvernail, A.F. and Lewis, M.D. (2022). Impacts of traditional field retting of hemp on soil  organic carbon and the soil microbial community. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 86 (3).