Shredding Roller Effect on the Cannabis sativa L. Residues and Environment

Abstract

Fiber cannabis has been grown in Lithuania for a long time, but its cultivation technologies have not been widely studied. However, the growing population and consumption forces us to look to alternatives and to make efforts and find solutions to facilitate the cultivation of fiber cannabis because the use of fiber cannabis can be for many different types of products. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the interaction of fibrous cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) residue and soil on the mechanical properties of the residue and the environment in cultivation technology using a shredding roller. The study determined the effect of the shredding roller on the moisture content of cannabis residues, lignin content, visual changes, and mechanical characteristics of breaking and cutting. Examining cannabis residues according to the dominant different diameters of 5-, 8-, and 10-mm organic cannabis residues, it was found that the highest efficiency of the shredding roller is when rolling 5 mm diameter cannabis residue stems. The efficiency of the shredding roller for reducing the mechanical characteristics of cannabis residues and the need for shredding force was up to 20.78%. The results obtained are significant if the cannabis crop used with the shredding roller is organic, as the smallest diameter plant residues would be the most abundant. Studies have concluded that the moisture content of cannabis residues, the visual changes, and the need for crushing force prove the efficiency of the shredding roller, and the cannabis cultivation technology influences the decomposition of cannabis residues.