As growers continue to expand their cannabis crops, the importance of good water management becomes more critical. Understanding how different types of irrigation impact plant growth can help cannabis growers maximize crop yields and avoid water stress.
Vegetative growth is a vital part of cannabis growth, as it provides the plants with much needed nutrients and helps them develop new leaf sets. Some growers select to grow their plants in veg for up to 15 weeks, while others prefer shorter periods of vegetative growth, typically 4-6 weeks.
Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation systems use a series of small diameter plastic pipes fitted with outlets (called emitters or drippers) to direct water into the soil at very low rates (2-20 litres per hour). In contrast to surface and sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation water is applied very close to plants so that only part of the soil in which roots grow is wetted.
Drip systems are more effective than other types of irrigation in controlling nutrient loss to the soil. They also help to maintain a high moisture level in the soil which plants require for good growth and flowering.
They are much more efficient than other types of irrigation because they deliver a steady, consistent supply of water to the plants and keep them well hydrated without wasting valuable nutrients. They can also help to minimize soil erosion and reduce the number of weeds in a garden.
Another important advantage of drip irrigation is that it is very precise and can be used to water individual plants or multiple crops at the same time. This allows for more control over watering than other methods, and ensures that all the plants get the exact amount of water they need.
Drip irrigation can be very effective at controlling nutrient loss, particularly in dry climates where spray and flood methods may be ineffective. It can also be a cost-effective way to water large gardens and can be an effective alternative to spraying cannabis with herbicides.
The key to ensuring that your drip system is working properly is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The main things to keep in mind are the tubing size and location, as well as the water pressure.
You should also install a filter to ensure that the water you’re using is free of minerals and other debris. You can also add a backflow preventer to ensure that contaminated water does not flow back into the system.
Finally, you should be aware of the weather conditions and make sure that your system is watered on a regular basis. This will keep the plants healthy and reduce water stress, which can cause stunted growth and drooping leaves.
Spray Irrigation
A growing cannabis plant requires an adequate amount of water and nutrients, especially in its vegetative stage. This is a period of 1-2 months where the plant makes stems and leaves, and begins to elongate in order to form buds.
During this phase, the seedling’s root system will expand downwards in search of water and nutrients. Experienced growers aim to deliver fully optimised grow conditions to ensure healthy and robust growth of the cannabis root system.
One of the key elements of healthy root growth is the aeration of the soil. This can be achieved by using air-permeable pots that allow air to travel through the roots without getting stuck in the soil, ensuring healthy and vigorous plant growth.
Spray irrigation is also a common method for watering plants during this phase. The advantage of using spray irrigation is that it dispenses water in a continuous, even flow, which provides a consistent level of moisture to the roots. However, it may also have a detrimental impact on the environment as the spray water is not targeted to the roots of the plant being irrigated and can spread across the entire surface area of the soil.
Another issue with spray irrigation is that the water often evaporates before it reaches the plant, leaving the soil dry. This can lead to problems like fungus and root rot.
As a result, some spray irrigation methods are being banned in some parts of the world. Fortunately, drip irrigation has the potential to overcome these problems and is an efficient way to deliver the right amount of water to the plant’s root zone without waste.
Besides delivering the correct amount of water, automated drip irrigation systems can significantly cut down on labor costs for cannabis growers, which is a big plus when it comes to making a profit. Automation can also help with operational challenges, such as poor water availability and inconsistent light conditions.
Optimizing lighting and water availability, along with adjusting operations to accommodate changes in scale, methodology or equipment can all increase indoor cannabis yields. Ben Higgins, chief scientist at KIS Organics and research scientist for Gold Leaf Gardens, has seen yield increases of more than 50% after he optimized his grow’s lighting and water availability.
Flooding
The impact of different types of irrigation on cannabis growth is important to understand as it can have an effect on yield and weed management. Several factors must be taken into consideration to choose the best irrigation method, including water use efficiency, cost, weed management potential, and other factors such as crop disease resistance.
For most crops, surface and sprinkler irrigation are the primary methods for water application and control. They provide uniform and consistent watering over a large area, and they allow growers to apply herbicides in a preplant stage before the crop has germinated. These methods also allow for better weed management and reduce the need for additional application of chemicals in the future.
In addition, these methods can be used to increase crop nutrient uptake by increasing airflow in the growing environment and decreasing soil fungal infection. This is particularly important in greenhouse environments where fungi can become serious problem.
Flooding is another type of irrigation that can be used to increase crop production. Flooding recharges ground water, making soil more fertile and increases nutrients in some soils. It can also kill pests and help keep weeds from spreading.
Some farmers also flood their fields to suppress the germination of weeds prior to planting. This practice, called stale seed bedding, is routinely used in many parts of the United States and can significantly reduce weed pressure.
Although flooding has been shown to decrease weed germination, it can also hinder plant establishment and growth, especially if the water depth is too shallow or the weeds are too thick. Therefore, it is essential to develop sufficient understanding of weed responses to flooding at the field level. This will assist in developing precise management practices, such as time and depth of flooding and drainage, that can be effective against particular weed species without hindering rice establishment.
The most common method for growing cannabis is in pots or in a hydroponic environment. Whether using conventional plastic containers or cloth-sided pots, this method allows for optimal root zone conditions while providing growers with operational scalability. In addition, it helps prevent overwatering and root-bound plants.
Hydroponics
Hydroponics is a popular method of growing cannabis due to its ability to deliver all the nutrients and water needed for plants to thrive. It also takes up a lot less space than soil, making it an ideal solution for growers who want to grow indoors or have limited garden spaces.
One of the main benefits of hydroponics is that it allows plants to grow much faster than those in soil. This is because the roots are able to receive nutrients directly from the water solution. This results in higher yields and a shorter flowering cycle.
There are many different types of hydroponic systems, and each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. Some systems are more efficient than others, while some can be difficult to set up.
Some of the most common hydroponic setups include drip irrigation, Ebb and Flow (EAF), Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), and the Kratky method. These all utilise a nutrient-enriched water solution and have varying degrees of success depending on how they are configured.
Drip irrigation consists of a tank filled with a nutrient-rich water solution that drips into pots on the plant’s bottom. Each of the plants in the tray gets their own drip pipe, and the excess water from the drip tube is drained down into the medium and recirculated back into the tank.
These drip-fed systems can be manually operated or automated, and they are one of the quickest and most effective ways to keep a crop hydrated. However, they need to be checked frequently to ensure that the nutrient strength and pH are not too low or too high.
Another important aspect of hydroponic growing is that it can be used in a variety of locations. For example, it is a great method for cultivators with limited garden spaces or those who suffer from physical ailments that make it difficult to get down on the ground to tend to their plants.
Other advantages of hydroponics include the fact that it is easier to control pest infestation and that it is much harder for insects to find their way into the system. It is also more resistant to rot, mold, and mildew.
