Ramie (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud, is the only member of the Urticaceae family used commercially for fiber production. The plant produces a large number of erect and slender stems or stalks, usually non-branching and grows from 4 to 7 leaves that are silvery white underneath, 7.5 to 15 cm. long with clusters of small greenish flowers, ranging from 8 to 16 mm in diameter. The stalks turn brown and woody as they mature.
The fiber obtained from Ramie plant is one of the strongest vegetable fiber known in the world today. It possesses highest strength and length, good durability and absorbency with excellent luster. These remarkable characters make it rather more suitable for use in the manufacture of wide variety of textiles and cordage products. However, despite its unique quality, ramie has received comparatively less prominence in the calendar of important crops of the world.
Recently with the availability of more technical know how, the crop has started getting slightly more importance and the countries like China, Brazil and the Philippines have come forward with commercial cultivation.
Principal Uses
- Fabric - Ramie tetoron
- Yams
- Industrial Threads
- Sacks
- Carpets
- Twine and Cordage
Conditions Required for Growing
Ramie grows well in the areas having good rainfall and warm climate. The following type of soil and climate is best suited for ramie cultivation.
Soil
The soils best suited for ramie are sandy loam or loamy, very sandy. The clayey or gravel soil is not suitable. The plant is too much sensitive to soil moisture conditions. It grows well in land, which have adequate supply of moisture, well distributed throughout the growing season. Soil must be well-drained i.e. high land and should have no problem of water logging or flooding. Flat and slopy lands are good. Ramie plants give poor growth in the dry sandy soil and the poorly drained soils. The soils deficient in calcium and poor in Base Exchange capacity are also not suitable unless proper liming is done and sufficient organic manure is added. The pH of the soils for ramie should be around 5.5 to 5.6.
Climate
Ramie is grown best in a warm moist climate where the temperature during winters goes down to freezing. A temperature of approximately 25°C to 31°C during the summer and rainy months with annual rainfall of 1500 to 3000 mm. evenly distributed throughout the year is considered good for the growth of the crop. However, the crop makes very little growth during winters. It is usually grown at altitudes less than 300m above sea level. The ramie plants are very much sensitive to frost. Even strong winds are harmful as during storms the stalks rub with each other resulting in breaking and ultimate lodging of the canes. The relative humidity of 80% during the growing period is found to be best.
Methods of Cultivation
Ramie is propagated vegetatively through rhizomes for commercial production throughout the world. The cuttings of rhizomes are planted directly in the field and the plants arising from them spread rapidly. Rhizomes are obtained from the roots of healthy and disease free plants which are dug out by a spade from an already established plantation. The rhizomes are then removed separately and cut into pieces of 10 to 15cm. in length.
These pieces are planted in field immediately or may be stored in a shady place for a week or so before planting. The practice of propagation through rhizomes ensures good sprouting, clonal purity and is economical. It makes the cultural operations also simple. The quantity of rhizomes obtained from an unit area depends on the age of plantation and variety. Usually the quantity of rhizomes obtained from one hectare of 2 years old plantation can give enough planting material to cover at least 20 hectares of land.
As a perennial crop, ramie occupies the land for a number of years. It is, therefore, necessary that the land is deeply and thoroughly prepared. Planting should invariably be done under good soil moisture condition. The planting period may extend from May to September depending of course on the local seasonal conditions. Rhizomes are planted 45 c.m. apart within the row and 60 c.m. between two rows. About 250 to 275 kg. of rhizomes are required for covering one hectare of land in a spacing of 60 cm x 45 cm.
Ramie can also be cultivated in open blocks or as intercrop with coconut plantations as is normally followed in the Philippines. Good results have been obtained when sufficient quantity of organic manure is applied in the field at the time of land preparation. Lime if needed should be applied at the time of land preparation itself at least 3 to 4 weeks before planting. The land is leveled after proper laddering.
Methods of Production
- Rhizome cuttings - 80-95% germination
- Divisional of parent stock - 90% germination
- Layering
- Stem cutting
Planting Season
Ramie can be planted at the start of the rainy season, or anytime in places where rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year.
Distance of Planting
Cuttings are usually planted in furrows spaced 40 to 50 cm apart and 3 cm deep at an angle of 45° leaving 1/3 or the length of the cutting above the ground and 2/3 covered with pulverized soil. If rhizome cuttings are used, they should be set in furrows about 3-4 cm deep, laid either flat or at an angle of 45°, from 30-40 cm apart in rows 80-100 cm between rows.
Rate of Fertilization
If the soil is rich, additional fertilizer of 80 kg N, 60 kg P2O and 60 kg K2O is recommended. If the soil is deficient such as sandy loam soil, higher rates of nitrogen and potassium are needed. Apply fertilizer using split method of application, spread out from 5 to 8 times annually.
Some Major Pests and Their Control
- Leaf roller - causes heavy infestation resulting in complete defoliation and cessation of the plant growth.
- Ramie weevil - brown beetle and green looper feed directly on buds, leaves and petioles. Spray with Methyl Parathion.
- Black caterpillar - feeds directly on leaves thus leaving the veins with a mesh-like appearance before falling. This can be kept under control by spraying with organophosphorous insecticides.
Some Major Nematodes and Their Control
- Cotton-root-knot nematode - causes root galls. Control with available nematicides.
- Bud nomatodes, pin nomatodes - result to blighted tips of ramie plants. Use available nematicides.
Maturity and Harvesting
Seventy days after planting for the first harvest and ratooned 45-60 days for the succeeding harvests. Maximum of fiber yields are attained on the second and third year. Rejuvenation of the area is needed after 4-6 years.
Method of Extraction
- Retting - extraction of fiber by means of soaking the stalks in running water, pond, lake of designed tank.
- Raspador-decorticator - a twoman raspador-decorticator could produce 100 kgs of dried ramie fiber a day.
Yield per Hectare
Ramie has an average yield of 1,575 kg of dry fiber based on three cuttings per hectare per year. Approximate potential yield of ramie per hectare (per year) may reach 2,700 to 4,800 kg of fiber per year. Dry fiber recovery ranges from 3.5% to 5%.
Official Standard Grades
Decorticated
- RD-A - Special
- RD-1 - Good
- RD-2 - Fair
- RD-3 - Short
- RD-O - String
- RD-T - Tow
- RD-W - Waste
Fermented
- RF-A - Special
- RD-1 - Good
- RD-2 - Fair
- RD-3 - Short
- RD-W - Waste
Download full manual here
On-farm trial of ramie under Davao Condition
For more information, contact:
Fiber Industry Development Authority
Asiatrust Bank Annex Building
1424 Quezon Ave., Quezon City
Tel: 913-27-89 Fax: 913-27-90
Web: www.fida.da.gov.ph
photo from lammatest.rete.toscana.it
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