Sisal
Sisal is an
important leaf fibre in terms of its quality and applications It is obtained
from the plant Agave Sisalana. Sisal is a xerophylic crop and is grown
under wide range of agroclimatic and adoptic conditions except in waterlogged
and ill drained soils.
The plant
grows in a moist climate with a dry season and rocky soil. The countries, where
sisal grows are.
USA, Florida,
Bahamans, East Africa, Brazil, Indonesia and Phillipine3 Sis 9 The agaves have
rosettes. of fleshy leaves, usually Long. And narrow which grow out from a centre butt, as
the leaves mature, they gradually spread out horizontally.
The leaves are dark
green, 1:0- 2,0 meter long, 10 20 cm wide at the base and 12-20 cm wide at the
widest part The sisal leaves gradually
tapered to a sharp point. The fibres placed longitudinally in the leaves and
are most abúndant hear the leaf surface
CULTIVATION
Planting is
done at the beginning of the rainy season. As the plants are become larger,
harvesting is done by cutting the outer leaves. The fibre is removed by
scrapping away the pulp material by a process, known as decortications'.
In the decortications process, the leaves are-fed through sets of fluted
crushing rollers. The crushed leaves are held firmly at their centers and both
ends passed between pairs of metal' drums, mounted with blades.
The blades help
to remove the pulp by scrapping. In a similar manner, centers are scrapped: The
fibre strands are washed and dried by air or by any other means.
PROPERTIES AND USE
The fiber is
coarse and strong. So it is used for making ropes, sail cloth, sacks and
carpets. Sisal rope is. Extensively used in ship building industry, marine
vessels and steamers as it is resistant to saline waters. It’s also used as a
composite for floor coverings.