STUDY OF BAST FIBER

(JUTE) 2 PART
ND
MOHAMMAD RAZA MIAH(PH.D.)
DOCTOR OF ENGINEERING IN MATERIALS PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY
UNIVERSITY OF CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (UCAS)
 CULTIVATION OF JUTE

The cultivation of jute is mainly dependent on the climate, soil, season, and planting or sowing. Because jute is a
rainy season crop, sown from March to May according to rainfall and type of land.

Figure: Cultivation of jute.

 CULTIVATION OF JUTE…

• I. Climate and Soils

Jute requires a warm and humid climate with temperatures between 24° C to 37° C. Constant rain or water-
logging is harmful. The new gray alluvial soil of good depth, receiving salt from annual floods, is best for jute. Flow
ever jute is grown widely in sandy loams and clay loams.
• II. Planting or sowing of jute
Sowing of jute in midlands and high lands starts with showers in March or April and continues till May or early
June in the western part of the jute belt. Compost or firm yard manure, Phosphorus and Potash, and Nitrogen
fertilizers are used as a fertilizer. Inter-culturing is essential in the early stage. Pasts are also required for plant
protection.
 HARVESTING OF JUTE

Jute is harvested any time between 120 days to 150 days when the flowers have been shed, early harvesting gives
good healthy fibers. The plant from 8 to 12 feet high are cut with stickles at or close to the ground level. In
flooded land, plants are up-rooted. The harvested plants are left in the field for 3 days for the leaves to shed.
The stems are then made up into bundles for steeping in water. Steeping is carried out immediately after harvest.

Figure: Harvesting of jute.

 FIBER EXTRACTION

The jute plant's fibers lie beneath the bark and surrounded the woody central part
of the stem. To extract the fibers from the stem, the process is carried out in the
following stages:
• 1. Retting:
Retting is a process in which the tied bundles of jute stalks are taken to the tank by
which fibers get loosened and separated from the woody stalk. The bundles are
steeped in water at least 60 cm to 100 cm in depth. The retting process is Figure: Retting of jute.
completed in 8 to 30 days when the barks separate out easily from the stick or
wood and fibers are ready for extraction. Development in recent years is the
adoption of ribbon retting technology in jute growing trade of the country.
 FIBER EXTRACTION…

• 2. Stripping (Fiber Extraction)

Stripping is the process of removing the fibers from the stalk after the
completion of retting. Fibers are removed from the stalk by any one of the
following methods:
(i) Single plants are taken and their fibers are taken off.
(ii) Taken off a handful of stalks, breaking it in a to-and-fro motion in water.
(iii) Washing the stalks first by standing in waist-deep water and then stripping Figure: Jute fiber extraction.
afterward.
When there is plenty of water, bundles of stalks are laid in the pond ditches or
slow-moving streams and left for 5-15 days under-water. The bunch of stems are
held in one hand and the root end is tapped lightly with a mallet. After
loosening the rest of the fibers, fibers are extracted and washed.
• 3. Washing and drying
Extracted fibers are washed in clean water. The dark color of fibers can be removed by dipping them in tamarind
water for 15 to 20 minutes and again washed in clean water. After squeezing excess water, the fibers are hung on
the bamboo railing for sun drying for 2-3 days.

Figure: Washing and drying of jute.

• 4. Bailing and packing
The jute fiber is graded into tops, middles, B, C, and X-bottoms. Packing into Kutcha bales about 250 pounds for
use in the home trade. they are transported to the jute market or direct to jute mills.

Figure: Bailing and packing of jute.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF JUTE
 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF JUTE

• 1. India:
India is the largest jute producing country in the world, with annual production estimated at more 1.968 million
tonnes. The prominence of India in the global production of jute is attributed to improvements in the crop
cultivation process, as well as the use of technology in jute farming. The majority of jute produced in India is
consumed domestically, as the country is also one the largest consumers of jute and jute products in the world.
Strict laws in India regarding allowable types of packaging materials is a primary cause of the country's demand for
jute. In 2011, India imported over 337,000 tonnes of jute and jute products to meet domestic demand. West
Bengal accounts for as much as 50% of the country's total jute production. Other major jute-producing regions in
the country include Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya,Assam, and Orissa.
 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF JUTE…

• 2. Bangladesh:
Bangladesh is the second largest producer of jute in the world, with annual production estimated at 1.349 million
tonnes. The country was formerly the world’s top jute producer, but a lack of technological advancements in
Bangladesh’s jute cultivation means that production was stagnant, as was later surpassed by India as the global
leader in jute production. Nonetheless, Bangladesh remains the world’s largest exporter of jute fiber, accounting
for as much as 70% of global jute exports. The jute fiber produced in Bangladesh is often considered the best
quality in the world.
Jute has been produced in Bangladesh for domestic consumption for many centuries, but it was not until the
establishment of the British East India Company that the crop became a key export commodity. Key jute-
producing regions in Bangladesh include Tangail, Dhaka, Jessore, Jamalpur, Bogra, and Faridpur. The total area under
jute cultivation in Bangladesh is about 559,838 hectares. The Bangladeshi Jute Research Institute is a state-owned
institute that provides top-quality seeds to jute farmers across the country.
 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF JUTE…

• 3. China:
China is the 3rd jute producing country in the world. statistics show that modern effective agriculture has made
jute farming in China to have the highest per acreage yields in the world. To focusing produced the other products,
the jute sector is down at their global market. They producing annually estimated to be 45,500 metric tonnes of
jute products.

• 4. Uzbekistan:
Uzbekistan is the 4th position to producer of jute. The annual jute producing approximately 20,000 metric tons.
Most jute farming in Uzbekistan was done by small-scale farmers although there were state farms that contributed
significantly to agricultural production.
 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF JUTE…

• 5. Nepal:
Nepal holds the 5th position among the top producers of jute in the global market. Production of jute in Nepal is
prominent in the Terai belt and most plantations are located in the Eastern region of Koshi, Sagarmatha, and Mechi
Zones. The annual production of jute in Nepal is estimated to be 18,000 metric tons and they export many more
unique and traditional jute and jute accessories worldwide.

• 6. Myanmar:
Myanmar is holding 6 positions of global jute-producing countries. created a suitable environment that promoted
farming to making the country a leading exporter of several agricultural produce including jute. The country is a
leading exporter of carpet backing cloth, jute bags, jute carpet, jute handicrafts, and yearns. The yearly production
of jute in Myanmar is estimated to stand at 17,000 metric tons.
 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF JUTE…

• 7.Thailand:
Thailand is the 7th position of jute producing country in the world. The country popularly exports handicrafts items but
jute is the 2nd exporting sector. In Thailand jute, farming continued to date and has earned Thailand a top spot among
leading exporters of the crop.The annual production of jute in the country is estimated at 12,000 metric tons.

• 8.Vietnam:
Vietnam is the 8th position of jute producing country in the world. To meet the global agricultural sector this country,
contribute 20% in their agricultural sector. jute products are the most exexportedroducts in Vietnam. The country’s
greatest producer of their popular Hanoi Jute Company which produces jute nets, bags, sacks, ropes, and sheets. The
annual production of Jute in Vietnam is approximately 12,000 metric tons.
 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF JUTE…

• 9. Sudan:
Sudan is one of the smallest and poorest countries in the African sub-continent. The interesting fact is Sudan is the 9th
jute producing countries in the world. jute products are the major exporting products in their country. For that reason,
they earn $906,000 yearly to the country’s GDP and the country produced estimated at 3,350 metric tons jute product
every year.

• 10. Egypt:
Egypt is popular for its agricultural products in the world. This country holding 10 positions of producing jute products
globally. the country cultivates jute and is among the leading countries of jute exporters globally as well as being the
second-ranked producer in the African continent. In Egypt, Jute is called “mulukhiyya” and the country produced
estimated at 2,508 metric tons jute product every year.
GRADING OF JUTE
 GRADING OF JUTE

There are two types of grading system as flows based on character of raw jute:
I. Pucca grading
II. Kutcha grading
 GRADING OF JUTE…PUCCA GRADING

Raw jute from which roots accept been cut.

• White Jute:
• Bangla white particular (BWS): White or creamy Finest texture Very adept luster, clean, good hackled Completely gratuitous from
whatever defects of jute Entirely gratuitous from cerise ends
• Bangla White-A (BW-A): White to low-cal cream Fine texture Strong together with real adept luster, construct clean Completely
gratuitous from cerise ends together with whatever blemish
• Bangla White-B (BW-B): Light cream to straw color Good texture Strong together with adept luster, good hackled Free from blemish
together with cerise ends excluded.
• Bangla White-C (BW-C): Light grayish or low-cal reddish to straw color sound pull average luster clean but gratuitous from croppy or
difficult pasty tops together with roots together with cerise soft ends are permissible.
• Bangla White-D (BE-D): Any color average pull occasional bark together with specks permissible slightly croppy together with pasty tops
permissible red ends too permissible.
• Bangla White-E(BW-E): Any color Any pull but gratuitous from perished fibers Unretted jute.
 GRADING OF JUTE…PUCCA GRADING

• Tossa Jute:
• Bangla Tossa Special (BTS):
• Uniform golden or reddish color
• Finest texture
• Very potent
• Very adept luster
• Clean cutting together with good hackled
• Completely gratuitous from whatever defects.
 GRADING OF JUTE…PUCCA GRADING

• Bangla Tossa-A(BT-A): 2. Uniform low-cal golden to reddish

1 . Uniform sliver grayish to golden color color

• Fine texture • Fine texture

• Strong together with adept luster • Strong together with adept luster

• Clean cutting together with good hackled • Clean cutting together with good
hackled
• Completely gratuitous from whatever blemish.
• Completely gratuitous from
whatever blemish.
 GRADING OF JUTE…PUCCA GRADING
• Bangla Tossa-B (BT-B):
1. Light to medium grayish color
• Sound constructs clean
• Good texture
• Average luster
• Clean cutting together with good hackled
• Free from whatever defects
2. Light grayish or reddish excluding nighttime
grayness color
• Sound constructs clean
• Good texture
• Average luster
• Clean cutting together with good hackled
• Free from whatever defects
 GRADING OF JUTE…PUCCA GRADING

• Bangla Tossa-C (BT-C):

• Mixed colors
• Average pull
• Occasional bark together with soft specks allowable
• free from runners
• Slightly croppy together with pasty tops permissible
• Well cutting together with hackled but gratuitous from dark rootage ends.
 GRADING OF JUTE…PUCCA GRADING

• Bangla Tossa-D(BT-D):
• Mixed colors
• Average pull
• Occasional bark together with specks allowable
• Free from runners
• croppy together with pasty tops permissible
• Rough cutting together with hackled
• Free from dark rootage ends
 GRADING OF JUTE…PUCCA GRADING

• Bangla Tossa-E(BT-E):
• Any color
• Any pull but gratuitous from un-retted jute
• Stick together with perished fibers
• Rough cutting together with hackled bark together with difficult Centre permissible
 GRADING OF JUTE…KUTCHA GRADING

• Kutcha Grading:
Raw jute from which roots accept non been cut.
• Kutcha bales are graded equally follows-
a) Tops
b) Middle
c) Bottoms
d) B-bottoms
e) C-bottoms
f) X-bottoms
 GRADING OF JUTE…KUTCHA GRADING

• Tops: • Middle:
• Very potent fiber • Strong audio fibers
• Excellent color together with luster • Average color together with luster
• Free from all defects • Free from all specks runners together with harsh
• Cutting non to a greater extent than (White 15% crop terminate (White 25% Tossa 15%)
Tossa 10%)
 GRADING OF JUTE…KUTCHA GRADING

• Bottoms: • B-bottoms:
• Sound fibers • Sound fiber
• Medium pull • Medium pull
• Free from all difficult centered jute (White 30% Tossa • Not suitable for higher grades (White 35% Tossa
20%) 25%)
 GRADING OF JUTE…KUTCHA GRADING

• C-bottoms: • X-bottoms:
• Medium pull • Weak, harsh jute
• Any color • Free from tagled jute together with stick
• Free from runners together with choppiness.
DEFECTS OF JUTE
 DEFECTS OF JUTE

• Specky Jute:
If the Jute Fibers are not rotted and washed properly; the barks of jute adhere to the fibers and causes them
speck. Speck in jute is a major defect of jute which lowers the quality of Jute fibers.

Figure: Specky defects of jute

 DEFECTS OF JUTE…

• Rooty Jute:
This kind of Jute Defects occurs due to various reasons such as under-retting of the root ends of Jute fibers and
if the root portion is not completely under water during ratting.
• Croppy Jute:
If the top end of the fibers is rough, black and hard then stripping is insufficient which causes croppy jute.
• Knotty Jute:
This kind of knotty jute defect is caused by insect bites in the jute plants.
• Hunka:
This type of Jute is hard and barky caused by insufficient removal of hard bark from jute.
 DEFECTS OF JUTE…

• Mossy Jute:
Mossy grows in stagnant of water.The mosses adhere to the Jute fibers causing Mossy Jute.
• Glossy Jute:
Highly lustrous jute fiber sometimes creates problems. This kind of highly lustrous jute fiber is named as Glossy
Jute.
• Flabby Jute:
Hairy Jute fiber defects are created due to over-retting and careless stripping of Jute.
• Runners:
Long hard and broken ribbon-like fibers caused careless stripping and washing.
 DEFECTS OF JUTE…

• Dazed Jute Fibers:

The Jute fiber has lost its strength and luster due to over-retting or excessive moisture in it.
• Heart Damage:
This kind of defect is caused for badly damaged rotten or tendered fibers.
• Weak fibers:
Over-retting is the main cause of weak fibers, also due to under-drying and sorting in moist conditions.
• Sticky or Woody:
In the top end at the jute plant is not stripped properly from the fiber, the brow pieces of the plant remain the
fiber ceurecl this defect. It is due to over-retting of the lower part of the plant is under retting of the top end.