About Jute
Jute is a long, soft, and shiny vegetable fiber.
Due to the golden color of jute fibers, it is also called the ‘Golden Fiber’. Jute fibers can be spun into thick and strong threads. Jute silk is one of the economical natural fibers. It is second only to cotton in terms of quantity produced and variety of uses of vegetable fibers. Jute fibers are primarily composed of the plant materials cellulose (the major component of plant fiber) and lignin (the major component of wood fiber). Thus it is a lignocellulose fiber, which is partly textile fiber and partly wood.
It falls into the bast fiber category (fiber collected from bast or plant skin) along with kenaf, industrial hemp, flax (linen), ramie, etc. Raw jute fibers are off-white to grey, silky, shiny, and golden brown and 1–4 m (3–12 ft) long.
Jute is not only nature-friendly but also very economical. The jute plant is easy to grow, has a high yield per acre, and unlike cotton, jute requires very low amounts of pesticides and fertilizers. Just like flax and hemp, jute is also a bast fiber. The stems of the jute plant are processed in the same manner.
Climate
The favorable conditions for jute plants require flat alluvial soil and stable water. The climate for jute is provided by the monsoon climate (warm and wet) during the monsoon season. Temperatures ranging from 20˚C to 40˚C and relative humidity of 70%-80% are suitable for successful jute cultivation in monsoon climates. The crop requires 5-8 cm of rainfall weekly, and more during the sowing period. Jute is planted closely so that the plants grow tall and straight.
Jute is used primarily where low cost is more important than durability, such as in covers for coffee sacks and cotton bales. Jute is used as twine for tying garden plants and as sackcloth (or burlap in the US). Jute is used in shopping bags, carpets and rugs, linoleum floor coverings, chair coverings, and environmentally friendly coffins.
Other benefits of jute are its usefulness as a geotextile fabric laid over the soil to stabilize soil against landslides and to control erosion or weeds. The fabric helps retain moisture and hold the soil in place, while the open weave structure of the fabric gives plants room to grow. As the plants become established, the jute fabric begins to biodegrade. This fabric is also used to wrap plant root balls, as it allows water and air to reach the roots. (Edited)Restore original
The experimental use of jute fiber in commercial paper manufacturing has proven moderately successful and may eventually lead to paper made from jute fiber, complementing pine and spruce as paper-making fibers.
After the flowers of the jute plant fall, jute is ready for harvesting in about four to six months. The stem of the plant is approximately 2.5 to 3.5 meters long and as thick as a finger. At the time of harvesting jute fields may be flooded with water, then the stems are tied into bundles.
On average, the jute plant produces four times more fiber per acre than flax. The fibers are located under the bark around a wooden core or ‘heard’. To extract the fiber from the jute plant, jute bundles are kept immersed in water. When the fibers are loose and ready to be separated from the stalk they are again washed and dried.
Jute has a very low carbon footprint, it is naturally biodegradable, nourishes the soil and all parts of the plant can be used.
The jute is called the golden fiber. Jute silk is a natural fiber with a golden luster. Jute fiber is one of the most affordable vegetable fibers after cotton. This fiber is obtained from the skin or base of the stem of the plant. Jute silk has high tensile strength, recyclability, and low extensibility, 100% biodegradable and eco-friendly. Jute fiber is a versatile natural product that is widely used as a raw material in many textiles, packaging, non-woven fabrics, construction, and agricultural applications.