Effects of water holding polymer applications on yield and quality traits in hemp (Cannabis sativa L.)cultivation

Cannabis is an annual plant belonging to the Cannabinaceae family, Cannabis genus Cannabis sativa L. species. Cannabis, one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world, is an important industrial plant used in many different fields today. In recent years, hemp has become a sector that has become increasingly widespread and creates a significant economic volume, especially in the USA, EU countries and Canada. The fibers of the cannabis plant are used for building materials, textiles and plastics; leaves and flowers for the cosmetic industry and medicine; seeds can be used in many different areas such as many functional foods. The amount of water used for agriculture in the world is about 70%. Today, water resources are decreasing and existing ones are becoming unusable. For this reason, water is one of the most important inputs in agriculture for the nutrition of today's humanity. Especially in a region like our country, where water resources are decreasing day by day, economical and efficient use of water has become a necessity. For this reason, water-holding soil humidifiers are used to reduce irrigation and fertilization costs. In this study, it was aimed to determine the effects of different water-retaining polymer doses on yield, yield components and quality in the local cannabis genotypes Narlısaray and Vezir. No studies on water-retaining polymers related to hemp were found in Yozgat. Up-to-date information on this subject is needed. With this study, it will be scientifically determined how cannabis affects yield and quality at different water-retaining polymer doses in Yozgat conditions, and thus, original proposals for hemp farming will be created.