Performance of Industrial Hemp Cultivars Across Southern-Midwestern U.S. Environments: Evidence from Multi-Location Trials in Missouri

Abstract

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) remains a crop of considerable industrial, environmental, and economic potential due to its multi-purpose use and sustainability. However, following an initial surge in interest after legalization, production has declined in recent years, highlighting the continued need for regional adaptability and cultivar performance data, particularly in the U.S. Midwestern hemp production region. This study evaluated thirty-two industrial hemp cultivars, both fiber and dual-purpose type, across three agro-ecological regions in Missouri over three consecutive growing seasons (2021, 2022 and 2023). Key agronomic traits, including emergence rate, plant height, stem diameter, biomass, flowering time, and fiber yield, were assessed to determine cultivar suitability under southern U.S Midwestern growing conditions. Jinma emerged as an outstanding fiber cultivar, combining robust establishment with high biomass production and fiber yields ranging from 6 to 12 metric tons per hectare, albeit with relatively late flowering patterns. Dual-purpose cultivar such as Futura 83 demonstrated a balance of relatively early flowering, vigorous growth, and commendable fiber and seed yields, making it ideal candidate for diversified production systems. Additionally, an optimized high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method enabled the rapid and precise quantification of eleven cannabinoids, including Δ9-THC and CBD, confirming all cultivars-maintained a total THC percentage levels well below the legal 0.3% threshold. This study provides critical insights into genotype-environment interactions, affirms the genetic stability of cannabinoid profiles across environments, and identifies top-performing cultivars, Jinma, Futura 83 and Fibror 79, as promising candidates for commercial production under Missouri's climatic conditions. These findings advance the strategic for the re-introduction of industrial hemp in the U.S. Midwest regions, particularly under Missouri's climate and latitude, offering a valuable foundation for broader multi-state comparisons and contributing to a resilient agricultural bioeconomy, future breeding innovations, and sustainable fiber crop development in similar environments.