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Given the growing interest in multipurpose hemp crop, eight monoecious cultivars were compared in a two-year trial for quantitative and qualitative yield in a Mediterranean environment characterized by a temperate and humid climate with hot summers. All hemp cultivars were evaluated for yield potential of (i) seed plus stem at seed maturity, and (ii) essential oil yield from inflorescences harvested at full flowering. The second goal was set to test the ability of cultivars to supply new seeds after the removal of inflorescence at full flowering. Among the cultivars, Fedora obtained the best results for seed (0.79 and 0.52 t ha−1) and vegetable oil yield (0.17 and 0.09 t ha−1) normally and with inflorescence removed plants, respectively. Futura, conversely, showed the best results for inflorescence (3.0 t ha−1), essential oil (9 L ha−1), and stem yield at seed maturity (8.34 t ha−1), as means across the two years. The cultivars studied generally reached the grain-filling stage during a period that was drier and warmer than the average of the same multi-year period, and this negatively affected seed quality. The oil fatty acid composition was mainly composed of polyunsaturated fatty acids (75% on average) and not affected by the cultivar. In conclusion, although the hemp grower should always clearly know the main production objective of the crop, the monoecious cultivars available today allow a multipurpose use of hemp crop, improving the sustainability of the cultivation activity.

Inulin is an important polysaccharide synthesised by different crops, which, in the EU has been included in the system\ud of sugar quotas since 1994. Currently, one of the major problems of the agro-industry is the need to extend\ud the length of the sugar crop harvest season. It was therefore decided, also in relation to the increased demand for\ud inulin, to study the two main inulin producing crops in Italy (chicory and Jerusalem artichoke), to verify yield and\ud quality potential and stability in relation to some important agronomic factors such as irrigation and time of harvest.\ud The work was conducted in 1999 and 2000 in four areas of Italy (Udine, Rovigo, Bologna and Bari). The effects\ud evaluated were time of harvest (3 for chicory and 2 for Jerusalem artichoke) and irrigation system (evapotranspiration\ud replacement and dry regime, with irrigation applied only when strictly necessary) on the production\ud of storage organs, sugars and inulin in the two crops. The highest chicory root yield was in Bologna, with an average\ud production of 65.6 t ha-1 (fresh weight), compared to Rovigo (54.4 t ha-1), Bari (46.5 t ha-1) and Udine (38.7 t\ud ha-1). For final tuber yield in Jerusalem artichoke, Bari was the most productive environment with an average of 80\ud t ha-1, followed by Bologna (61 t ha-1) and Udine (55.5 t ha-1). However, when this crop is whole-plant harvested\ud (stalks and tubers) at pre-flowering, Bologna, with high stalk yields (58.7 t ha-1) appeared to be the most suitable\ud environment. This type of harvesting was also shown to be more productive in terms of sugar and inulin yield. The\ud total sugar content in the different organs analysed (roots, stalk and tubers) was always higher in Udine compared\ud to Bologna, for both crops. Lastly, the length of the inulin chain (average degree of polymerisation [DP]) diminishes\ud with the delaying of the harvest in both crops. The Bologna area had the highest potential in terms of chicory\ud root production, while for the tubers yield of Jerusalem artichoke, the Bari environment was the most productive.\ud But, when Jerusalem artichoke is instead considered as a crop for whole-plant harvest (stalks and tubers),\ud Bologna, with a very high stalk yields, becomes the most suitable area. The highest sugar content in roots, stalks\ud and tubers of both crops was found in the Udine trial

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