Genotype x Environmental Effects on Yielding Ability and Seed Chemical Composition of Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Varieties Grown in North Dakota, USA

• Published in: Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society 2019-12, Vol.96 (12), p.1417-1425
• Main Authors: Lan, Yang, Zha, Fengchao, Peckrul, Allen, Hanson, Bryan, Johnson, Burton, Rao, Jiajia, Chen, Bingcan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Gamma‐linolenic acid; Healthy oil; n6/n3 ratio; Nutritional minerals; Protein
• ISSN: 0003-021X; 1558-9331
• DOI: 10.1002/aocs.12291

The influence of growing conditions in North Dakota on grain yield and seed composition was evaluated for industrial hemp varieties (Cannabis sativa L.) grown in North Dakota, USA. Average grain yield across varieties was 2138 kg ha−1. Crude protein content of undehulled industrial hemp flour from 10 varieties ranged from 32.7% to 35.9%; and oil content ranged from 24.3% to 28.1%. All industrial hemp flours were excellent natural sources of iron (46.7%), manganese (169.1%), copper (29.0%), zinc (28.2%), phosphorus (41.0%), and magnesium (33.7%) on a per serving basis (30 g per serving) for percent recommended daily intake (% RDI). Oils from most of the varieties differed significantly for the fatty acid (FA) profile. The n6/n3 ratio ranged from 3.2 to 5.1. Principal component analysis (PCA) suggested that CFX‐2 and CRS‐1 grew well in North Dakota based on grain yield, flour, and oil quality. In this study, the chemical composition of flour was not influenced by crop year; but crop year did effect the nutritional mineral composition. These results may have important implications for the use of industrial hemp in food applications.