Learn to grow a range of important fibre crops
Lesson Structure
There are 10 lessons in this course:
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Scope and Nature of Fibre Crops
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Introduction
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Fibre Properties
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Fibre Uses
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Types of Fibre Crops
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Commercial Viability
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Assessing Land Characteristics
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Assessing land suitability
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Broad Acre Farming
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Crop Production Considerations
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Production Systems
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Crop Rotation and Management
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Cover Crops
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Crop Islands
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Cotton – Part 1
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Cotton Production
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Sustainable Agriculture
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Crop Rotation
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Conservation Tillage
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Insects and Diseases
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Insects
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Aphids
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Armyworm
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Cotton bollworm
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Cotton Diseases
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Fungal Diseases
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Viral Diseases
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Bacterial Diseases
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Pesticides and insecticides
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Cotton Life Cycle
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Types of Cotton
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Better Cotton Initiative
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Genetic modification
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Cotton - Part 2
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Cotton Fibre Properties
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Improving Properties of Cotton Fibre
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Flexural testing
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Industrial Use of Cotton
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Cotton Fibre in Clothing
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Wicking
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Cotton - Milkweed blends
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Ginning
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Coloured Cotton
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Textile Dyeing
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Load Bearing Materials
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Harvesting
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Cotton Pickers
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Cotton Strippers
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Cotton Ginning
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Uses of Cotton
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Jute
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Types and Properties of Jute
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Jute Production
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Climatic requirements for Jute
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Jute Characteristics
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Genetic Yield Improvements
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Pests and Diseases
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Harvesting
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Uses and Consumption
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Industrial Hemp
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Terminology
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Types and Properties
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Cultivation
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Countries of Production
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Climate
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Soil Fertility
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Water
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Pests and Diseases
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Cost
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Genetic Modification
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Harvesting
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Uses and Consumption
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Geotextiles
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Fabric
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Carbon Capture
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Phytoremediation
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Hempseed
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Building
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Paper
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Cannabidiol
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Sunn Hemp and Kenaf (Deccan Hemp)
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Sunn Hemp
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Properties
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Cultivation
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Soil Fertility
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Water
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Cost
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Phytoremediation
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Pests and Diseases
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Genetic Modification
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Harvesting
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Retting
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Uses
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Fibre
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Weed Control
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Green Manure
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Biofuel
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Kenaf (Deccan Hemp)
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Types and Properties
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Cultivation
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Countries of Production
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Climate
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Soil Fertility
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Water Requirements
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Pests and Diseases
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Harvesting and Processing
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Uses and Consumption
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Textiles
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Food
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Sustainable Material
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Soil Structure
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Paper
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Flax
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Types and Properties
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Cultivation
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Countries of Production
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Climate
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Soil
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Water Requirement
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Pests and Diseases
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Genetic Modification
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Harvesting
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Processing
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Uses and Consumption
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Fabric
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Bio Composites and Industrial Materials
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Paper
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Bioplastic
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Food
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Leaf Fibres and Grass Fibre
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Abaca and sisal fibres
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Abaca
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Types and Properties
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Production and Cultivation
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Pests and Diseases
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Harvesting and Processing
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Uses and Consumption
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Sisal
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Sisal Cultivation
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Harvesting and Processing
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Uses and Consumption
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Grass Fibres – sugarcane and bamboo
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Sugarcane
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Properties
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Sugarcane Culture
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Growing & Production
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Soil Conditions
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Ratooning
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Tillage
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Crop Rotation and Break Crops
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Harvesting
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Burn-offs
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Sugarcane Straw
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Sugarcane Yield Limitations
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Pests and Diseases
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Pathogens
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Uses and Consumption
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Sugar
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Energy
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Bioethanol
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Bioplastics/Biomaterials
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Paper and containers
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Other Uses
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Alcohol – Rum
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Bamboo
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Types and Properties
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Cultivation
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Pests and Diseases
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Harvesting and Processing
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Uses and Consumption
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Food
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Fuel
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Medicine
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Building Material
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Furniture, Household Items and Accessories
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Clothing
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Paper
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Fruit Fibre - Coir
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Types and Properties of Coir
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Coir Production and Cultivation
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Countries of Production
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Climate
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Soil Fertility
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Water Requirement
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Cultivars
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Pests and Diseases
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Harvesting and Processing
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Uses and Consumption
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Cordage
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Horticulture
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Construction material
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Biocontrol
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Fibre Processing and the Fibre Future
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Fibre Quality
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Retting
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Biological Retting
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Dew Retting
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Water Retting
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Enzyme Retting
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Chemical Retting
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Mechanical Retting
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Physical Retting
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Drying
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Fibre Future
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Hybrid Composites
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Geotextiles
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Building Industry
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Car Interiors
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Genetic Improvements
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Other Fibre Sources
Consider the Future Potential of Plant Fibres
Fibre crops have been grown and used for centuries. , with the advancement of technology throughout the 20th century, synthetic fibres were developed to overcome some of the disadvantages of natural fibres, and to produce a more economical, mass-produced product. Nylon was the first human-made product to arrive, and shortly followed by polyester and spandex. Today the rapid consumption of petroleum-based products and its negative impact on the environment has led to an increase in environmental consciousness when it comes to sustainable materials and products. The benefits of choosing natural fibre products over synthetic ones range from health reasons, sustainability and environmental concerns and longevity benefits.
Some of these advantages include:
- Absorbent - Natural fibres have an incredibly high absorbency, as the fibres tend to have a strong affinity for water. This makes natural fibres a great option for bed sheets and towels, along with clothing, especially in warm climates. Natural fibres also tend to be very breathable.
- Eco-friendly - Natural fibres usually have a smaller environmental impact than synthetic fibres because natural fibres do not use as many chemicals during the production process. Some natural fibres are less eco-friendly than others because some plants require more water. They are also biodegradable.
- Durable - Due to the structure of cellulose, which makes up natural materials, most plant-based fibres are very strong.
- Safe – natural fibres are non-carcinogenic, fire-resistant and are also naturally hypoallergenic, making them safe to wear.
There are also disadvantages to natural fibres, when compared with synthetic alternatives.
- Plant fibres are not uniform in their dimensions or other qualities
- Plant fibres are relatively hydrophilic, which limits their ability to bond with hydrophobic polymers in composites.
- Plant fibres don't easily withstand the high temperatures used in some manufacturing processes.
Hybrid Composites
The ever-increasing demands for sustainability and ecologically friendly products have considerably amplified the academic and industrial interest in natural fibres. Fibres crops are finding new and diverse applications and usages like dietary fibres, biodegradable films in food industry, natural fibre composites, biopolymers, biofuels, and pharmaceuticals. Natural fibres have also sparked great interest among technologists and scientists for applications in civil, military, industrial, spacecraft, and biomedical sectors.
Hybrid composites present unique features that meet various design requirements more efficiently and more economically than conventional composites. Natural fibres can be used as fillers and reinforcement agents instead of conventional materials like talc, calcium carbonate, mica, glass fibres, etc. Not only does this provide a more environmentally friendly alternative, but some of these natural fibre composites also improve strength and structure.
With the use of natural fibres in composites, there exist many possibilities since the number of different application possibilities is rapidly growing within many engineering fields. This widespread use of natural fibres in composites comes down to a lower production cost, lower weight, right strength, good mechanical properties, and resistance to fatigue.
