Industrial Hemp Stand Establishment in North Dakota.

Industrial hemp production renewal in the U.S. prompts investigation into redefining production guidelines based on practices from the 1940s. Study objectives are to evaluated current industrial hemp cultivars for stand establishment and crop performance regarding seeding date and seed treatment. Replicated RCBD studies were conducted at the Langdon Research Extension Center in northeastern, ND, during the 2017 season. The experimental design was a RCBD with a split-plot arrangement with seeding date the main plot and a factorial arrangement of cultivar and seed treatment as the subplot. Two industrial hemp cultivars, Delores and Katina, were sown on May 20, June 1, and June 12. Two seed treatments: ipconazole plus metalaxyl and metalaxyl alone, and an untreated check were included for each cultivar. The main effect of cultivar and all interactions were not significant for stand density, PLSE, and mortality. Stand density (145 plants/m2) and PLSE (84%) were greater for the May 20 seeding date than seeding dates June 1 and June 12, that were 128 plants/m2 and 75% for stand density and PLSE, respectively. Stand density (143 plants/m2) and PLSE (83%) were greater for the ipconazole plus metalaxyl seed treatment compared to the untreated check with 126 plants/m2 and 73% PLSE. Seed/seedling mortality was approximately 9% lower for the May 20 seeding compared with the later seeding dates and 10% less for the ipconazole plus metalaxyl seed treatment compared with the untreated check. Based on 2017 results, earlier seeding date and seed treatment increased stand establishment and PLSE, and reduced seed/seedling mortality for industrial hemp.