Preliminary results of a German field trial with different hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) accessions

Hemp is one of the oldest crops in the world and can be used in very differ ent ways. Hemp cultivation was forbidden in Germany since 1982. Since 1996 hemp with less than 0.3 per cent THC content can be grown. To evaluate the available genetic hemp resources 14 monoecious and 26 dioecious hemp variet ies and strains were grown in the field in 1996 and analysed for morphologi cal traits. A large variability was found for plant height at different dat es, blooming time, stem diameter, fresh and dry weight and seed yield. Plan t density and plant height at maturity were negatively correlated. The init ial growth rate is only of minor importance. There was no interaction betwe en genotype and sex for dioecious accessions, though differences between se x types were important.