Bundles of jute, showing the fibres of Corchorus olitorius (tossa jute fibre) and Corchorus capsularis (white jute fibre)

Jute plants (Corchorus olitorius and Corchorus capsularis)

Jute matting being used to prevent flood erosion while natural vegetation becomes established. For this purpose, a natural and biodegradable fibre is essential.

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Jute is a long, soft, shiny vegetable fiber that can be spun into coarse, strong threads. It is produced from plants in the genus Corchorus, family Tiliaceae. more...

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Jute is one of the cheapest natural fibres and is second only to cotton in amount produced and variety of uses. Jute fibres are composed primarily of the plant materials cellulose (major component of plant fibre) and lignin (major components wood fibre). It is thus a ligno-cellulosic fibre that is partially a textile fibre and partially wood. It falls into the bast fibre category (fibre collected from bast or skin of the plant) along with kenaf, industrial hemp, flax (linen), ramie, etc. The industrial term for jute fibre is raw jute. The fibres are off-white to brown, and 1â€“4 meters (3â€“12 feet) long.

Jute fibre is often called hessian; jute fabrics are also called hessian cloth and jute sacks are called gunny bags in some European countries. The fabric made from jute is popularly known as burlap in North America.

Cultivation

Jute needs a plain alluvial soil and standing water. The suitable climate for growing jute (warm and wet climate) is offered by the monsoon climate during the monsoon season. Temperatures ranging 20Ëš C to 40Ëš C and relative humidity of 70%â€“80% are favourable for successful cultivation. Jute requries 5â€“8 cm of rainfall weekly with extra needed during the sowing period.

White jute (Corchorus capsularis)

In several historical documents (especially, Ain-e-Akbari by Abul Fazal in 1590) during the era of the great Mughal Emperor Akbar (1542â€“1605) states that the poor villagers of India used to wear clothes made of jute. Simple handlooms and hand spinning wheels were used by the weavers, who used to spin cotton yarns as well. History also states that Indians, especially Bengalis, used ropes and twines made of white jute from ancient times for household and other uses.

Tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius)

Tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius) is an Afro-Arabian variety and a member of the mallow family. It is quite popular for its leaves that are used as an ingredient in an okra slimy Arabian potherb called molokhiya (Ù…Ù„ÙˆØ®ÙŠØ© a word of doubtful etymology). The Jewish Book of Job mentions this vegetable potherb as Jew's mallow.

Tossa jute fibre is softer, silkier, and stronger than white jute. This variety astonishingly showed good sustainability in the climate of the Ganges Delta. Along with white jute, tossa jute has also been cultivated in the soil of Bengal from the start of the 19th century. Currently, the Bengal region (West Bengal, India, and Bangladesh) is the largest global producer of the tossa jute variety.