Irrigation and Spacing Effects On Fiber and Forage Yield in Stinging Nettle.

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) is a promising specialty crop with immense economic potential. Apart from being harvested and consumed as a leafy vegetable, U. dioica has well documented applications in alternative medicine and industry. However, there is limited research on U. dioica agronomy and performance in different regions of the U.S. and the current study is part of efforts to establish growth parameters for managed cultivation of U. dioicaunder field conditions.

Field experiments were conducted at Randolph Farm, Virginia State University to test the response of transplanted nettle to irrigation (irrigated; rainfed) and spacing (50 cm between plants; x 50; 75; 100 cm between rows). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with main plots assigned to irrigation, and sub-plots to spacing treatments. Drip-irrigation was used to deliver fertilizer to all plots, and to maintain soil moisture in irrigated plots at near field capacity. Data was collected on growth (light interception and height), and biomass and fiber yield and quality.

Results from two seasons show that irrigation and spacing did not significantly affect nettle re-growth in the spring. Biomass varied with treatment with higher and more uniform productivity observed for irrigated plots, and a slight decline in yield with increasing inter-row spacing. Fiber yield per unit stem weight was marginally higher in the 50 x 100 cm spacing treatment irrespective of irrigation. Preliminary observations suggest U. dioica can be grown in south-Central Virginia without supplemental irrigation because peak growth coincides with wet months in the spring and fall.