Kenaf [Etymology: Persian ^[1] ]. (Hibiscus cannabinus) is a species of Hibiscus, probably native to southern Asia, though its exact natural origin is unknown. The name also applies to the fibre obtained from this plant. Kenaf is one of the allied fibres of jute and shows similar characteristics. Other names include Bimli, Ambary, Ambari Hemp, Deccan Hemp, and Bimlipatum Jute. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 390 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (1757 × 2700 pixel, file size: 1. ... Scientific classification redirects here. ... For other uses, see Plant (disambiguation). ... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants (also angiosperms or Magnoliophyta) are one of the major groups of modern plants, comprising those that produce seeds in specialized reproductive organs called flowers, where the ovulary or carpel is enclosed. ... Magnoliopsida is the botanical name for a class of flowering plants. ... Families Malvaceae (mallows,...) Dipterocarpaceae Sarcolaenaceae Cistaceae Muntingiaceae Bixaceae Diegodendraceae Cochlospermaceae Sphaerosepalaceae Thymelaeaceae Neuradaceae The Malvales are an order of flowering plants, mostly comprised of shrubs and trees. ... Subfamilies Bombacoideae Brownlowioideae Byttnerioideae Dombeyoideae Grewioideae Helicteroideae Malvoideae Sterculioideae Tilioideae Malvaceae is family of flowering plants containing Malva, the mallow genus, and its relatives. ... For other uses, see Hibiscus (disambiguation). ... Latin name redirects here. ... Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 13, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... For other uses, see Hibiscus (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... For the meaning of fiber in nutrition, see dietary fiber. ... This article is about vegetable fibre. ... Hemp is an old English name for a particular herb or plant and for the fibre produced by its growth or cultivation. ...

It is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant (rarely a short-lived perennial) growing to 1.5-3.5 m tall with a woody base. The stems are 1-2 cm diameter, often but not always branched. The leaves are 10-15 cm long, variable in shape, with leaves near the base of the stems being deeply lobed with 3-7 lobes, while leaves near the top of the stem are shallowly lobed or unlobed lanceolate. The flowers are 8-15 cm diameter, white, yellow, or purple; when white or yellow, the centre is still dark purple. The fruit is a capsule 2 cm diameter, containing several seeds. Peas are an annual plant. ... A Biennial plant is a plant that takes between twelve and twenty-four months to complete its lifecycle. ... This article is about the plants used in cooking and medicine. ... Red Valerian, a perennial plant. ... Look up foliage in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Flower (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Fruit (disambiguation). ... Flowers and fruit (capsules) of the ground orchid, Spathoglottis plicata. ... A ripe red jalapeño cut open to show the seeds For other uses, see Seed (disambiguation). ...

Uses

Dried Kenaf stems

Kenaf has a long history of cultivation for its fibre in India, Bangladesh, Thailand, parts of Africa, and to a small extent in southeast Europe. The stems produce two types of fibre, a coarser fibre in the outer layer (bast), and a finer fibre in the core. It matures in 100 to 1000 days. About 9000 cultivars are produced. Grown for over 4000 years in Africa where its leaves are consumed in human and animal diets, the bast fiber is used for cordage, and the woody core of the stalks burned for fuel. This crop was not introduced into southern Europe until the early 1900s. Today, principal farming areas are throughout China, India,and in many other countries including the following:Mackay, Australia in trial stages; Seed farms- Texas,USA and Tamaulipas, Mexico; North Carolina, USA , Senegalto name a few. Download high resolution version (500x630, 67 KB)USDA photo by Scott Bauer. ... Download high resolution version (500x630, 67 KB)USDA photo by Scott Bauer. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... ukyih;;;;;;;;;;uiiiih;hhh;oiuj7p ... This Osteospermum Pink Whirls is a successful cultivar. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Mackay (, pop. ...

The main uses of kenaf fiber have been rope, twine, coarse cloth (similar to that made from jute), and paper. In California, Texas and Louisiana, 3,200 acres (13 km²) of kenaf were grown in 1992, most of which was used for animal bedding and feed. Coils of rope used for long-line fishing A rope (IPA: ) is a length of fibers, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. ... A spool of twine. ... It has been suggested that Textile be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about vegetable fibre. ... For other uses, see Paper (disambiguation). ...

Emerging uses of kenaf fibre include engineered wood, insulation, and clothing-grade cloth. Panasonic has set up a plant in Malaysia to manufacture kenaf fibre boards and export them to Japan, oil absorbent (based on patent issued to H. and C. Willett), soil-less potting mixes, animal bedding, packing material, organic filler for blending with plastics for injection molding (using the technology developed and patented by Fibre Packaging International, Inc.), as an additive for drilling muds, and various types of mats, such as, seeded grass mats for instant lawns to moldable mats for manufactured parts and containers. Engineered wood, also called composite wood, includes a range of derivative wood products which are manufactured by binding together the strands, particles, fibers, or veneers of wood, together with adhesives, to form composite materials. ... Common insulation applications inside an apartment building in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. ... A baby wearing many items of winter clothing: headband, cap, fur-lined coat, shawl and sweater. ... Panasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. ...

Kenaf seeds yield a vegetable oil that is edible and high in omega antioxidants. The kenaf oil is also used for cosmetics, industrial lubricants and as bio-fuel. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with cooking oil. ... For articles on specific fuels used in vehicles, see Biogas, Bioethanol, Biobutanol and Biodiesel Biofuel is any fuel that is derived from biomass — recently living organisms or their metabolic byproducts, such as manure from cows. ...

Kenaf Paper

The use of Kenaf in paper production offers various environmental advantages over producing paper from trees. In 1960, the USDA surveyed more than 500 plants and selected kenaf as the most promising source of "tree-free" newsprint. In 1970, kenaf newsprint produced in International Paper Company's mill in PineBluff, Arkansas, was successfully used by six U.S. newspapers. Printing and writing paper made from the fibrous kenaf plant has been offered in the United States since 1992. Again in 1987, a Canadian mill produced 13 rolls of kenaf newsprint which were used by four U.S. newspapers to print experimental issues. They found that kenaf newsprint^[2] made for stronger, brighter and cleaner pages than standard pine paper with less detriment to the environment. Due partly to kenaf fibers being naturally whiter than tree pulp, less bleaching is required to create a brighter sheet of paper. Hydrogen peroxide, an environmentally-safe bleaching agent that does not create dioxin, has been used with much success in the bleaching of kenaf. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, also called the Agriculture Department, or USDA, is a Cabinet department of the United States Federal Government. ...

Various reports suggest that the energy requirements for producing pulp from kenaf are about 20 percent less than those for wood pulp, mostly due to the lower lignin content of kenaf. Many of the facilities that now process Southern pine for paper use can be converted to accommodate kenaf.^{[citation needed]}

USDA kenaf expert Daniel Kugler predicts that kenaf will be widely used to make paper, and that it represents a promising cash crop for American farmers. One acre of kenaf produces 7 to 11 tons of usable fiber in a single growing season. In contrast, an acre of forest (in the USA) produces approximately 1.5 to 3.5 tons of usable fiber per year. It is estimated that growing kenaf on 5,000 acres (20 km²) can produce enough pulp to supply a paper plant having a capacity of 200 tons per day. Over 20 years, one acre of farmland can produce 10 to 20 times the amount of fiber that one acre of Southern pine.^[3]

Common Names

English: kenaf (Persian origin) India (Bengal): mesta India (Madras): palungi India (Bombay): deccan hemp India (Andhra Pradesh): Bimli jute, "Gongura" Taiwan: ambari Egypt & Northern Africa: til, teel, or teal Indonesia: Java jute Brazil: papoula de Sao Francisco South Africa: stokroos West Africa: dah, gambo, and rama.^[4]

Pesticide and Fertilizer Use in Kenaf Crops

Kenaf is considered a hardy plant that requires a minimum of fertilizers, pesticides and water in comparison to conventional row crops.^{[citation needed]} Fertilizers are chemicals given to plants with the intention of promoting growth; they are usually applied either via the soil or by foliar spraying. ... the plane is spreading pesticide. ...

Notes

1. ^ "kenaf." Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged. Merriam-Webster, 2002. http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com
2. ^ www.treehugger.com
3. ^ usda kenaf uses
4. ^ According to Miyake and Suzuta (1937), there are more than 129 names for kenaf worldwide.

References and external links

• American Kenaf Society (AKS), Founded in 1997 with individuals and organizations working directly or indirectly with kenaf and kenaf-based products, plus those with environmental concerns.
• [http://www.chinaconsultinginc.com/ CCG International (CCG), Leading International efforts to promote the use of kenaf and allied natural plant fibers.
• International Jute Study Group, A UN collaboration for learning various aspects of Jute and Kenaf. Its headquarter is located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It targets business societies in India, Bangladesh, and Thailand.
• About the Kenaf Plant, Vision Paper - Gives detailed description of kenaf plant and provides many links to kenaf industry. Pioneers in the kenaf paper industry.Produced first ever chlorine free 100% tree-free kenaf paper in 1992.
• Information about Kenaf in German language, Provides information on Market Place, News, and Links about Kenaf in German language.
• Nachwachsende-Rohstoffe, A German site for Kenaf and other agricultural commodities related articles (Also available in English).
• Alternative Field Crops Manual
• Kenaf: Taking Root? 1995 article by Brooke Wurst
• Mabberley, D.J. 1987. The Plant Book. A portable dictionary of the higher plants. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 706 pp. ISBN 0-521-34060-8.