Selection of plant population of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) as a papermaking raw material on arid hillside land in China

Agronomic properties (whole stalk yield, fiber length distribution, chemica l composition) and whole stalk kraft pulp characteristics (total pulp yield , pulp fiber length distribution, pulp sheet strengths) were examined for k enaf (variety Zhehong 8310) at four plant populations, ranging from 135 000 to 405 000 plants/ha on arid hillside land at Anji, Zhejiang, China. For a gronomic properties, the final whole stalk yield was higher as the plant po pulation increased and as the altitude of the location on the slope decreas ed. Average fiber lengths of bast and core showed maxima at 225 000 plants/ ha. Cellulose content increased as the plant population increased. For the kraft pulp characteristics of kenaf whole stalk, the total pulp yield was l ower as the plant population increased, with the maximum difference about 1 .3%. Sheet strengths and average fiber length attained maxima at around 225 000-315 000 plants/ha. The largest pulp strengths (breaking length, burst index, and folding endurance) were seen at a plant population of 225 000 pl ants/ha, and the largest tear index was seen at a plant population of 315 0 00 plants/ha. When the agronomic properties and whale stalk kraft pulp char acteristics were combined, a plant population between 225 000 and 315 000 p lants/ha, which is a little higher than that of kenaf bast production for t extiles, was selected as the optimum cultivated kenaf plant population for whole stalk kraft pulp and papermaking on arid hillside land in China.