This chapter discusses the origin and taxonomy of kenaf, the description of the plant parts (stems, leaves, flowers, seeds, and root), the importance of the crop worldwide, the cultivation area, as well as its importance. Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) is an annual spring crop cultivated for long (4000 BC). It originated from Africa, disseminated in the 1900s in Asia (in India and then in China) and in the 1940s from Asia to northern and central USA. Kenaf belongs to the Malvaceae family and section Furcaria. It is closely related to cotton, okra, hollyhock, and roselle. Nowadays it is being cultivated in 20 countries worldwide and its total production (kenaf and allied crops) is 352,000 tons (2010/2011). Currently, China and Pakistan are the main producers. In the last part of the chapter the importance of the crop is discussed. Kenaf is an annual non-food fiber crop that used to be cultivated for numerous uses (paper pulp, fabrics, textiles, building materials, biocomposites, bedding material, oil absorbents, etc.). Recently, it is also considered as an important medicinal crop as its seed oil is recorded to cure certain health disorders and help in the control of blood pressure and cholesterol.
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IntroductionKenaf is an annual spring crop cultivated for long (4000 BC) and its origin is from Africa. It belongs to the Malvaceae family and section Furcaria. Kenaf is closely related to cotton, okra, hollyhock, and roselle. It is a short day crop cultivated from 300 S to 450 N. Research on agronomics and end uses of the crop has been carried out worldwide during the last century. Many varieties are available worldwide (with short, intermediate, and long date habits).It is considered an important bast fiber crop and used to be cultivated for its fibrous stem (contains long and short fibers in its stem fractions; bark and core, respectively) with numerous industrial applications (paper and pulp, fabrics, textiles, biocomposites, insulation mats, absorption materials, animal bedding, etc.). Recently, kenaf is being considered as an important medicinal crop. It was found that its oil has high contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Its seed can cure many health disorders and diseases such as blood pressure, cholesterol balance, and some types of cancers. Thus, kenaf can be considered a dual non-food crop cultivated for its fiber and/or its oil production. This chapter describes in detail the crop origin and taxonomy, the plant parts, its cultivation area worldwide, and explains why kenaf is an important non-food crop with many alternative or complementary uses.
Origin of the GenusKenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) has been cultivated for long, probably as early as 4000 BC (Roseberg 1996). It originated in Africa, where diversified forms of the species are found growing widely as a component of the native vegetation of the countries of East Africa (Wilson and Menzel 1964; Wilson 1978; Dempsey 1975;Li 1990). The existence of semi-wild kenaf in Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) might be an indication of th...
