One of the most important factors affecting the growth of a cannabis plant is the type of irrigation used. Different types of irrigation affect the soil quality, air quality and the plants’ ability to produce. This article explores these issues and provides an explanation of how each type of irrigation can affect your plants’ overall growth.
Surface irrigation
Managing the water supply for a cannabis farm is an ongoing challenge. In the absence of an accurate baseline assessment, the water demands of the plant’s growing season will not be known with certainty.
The optimal method of managing water at a cannabis farm is likely to be reliant on a combination of water conservation and precision irrigation. An efficient drip irrigation system will produce a high yield with low energy consumption. While this type of system may be best suited for irrigated farms, it is not the best choice for growing plants that require less precise watering.
Another important factor in determining the water demands of a cannabis farm is the type of soil on the property. Loam, which is a mixture of sand, silt, humus, and clay, is typically considered a favorable type of soil. It holds moisture well, helps to prevent root rot, and provides drainage for the plants. A regenerative agricultural practice such as no-till farming could be used to improve the water retention capabilities of loam.
Regardless of the type of soil, the appropriate soil preparation is an essential element for any successful cannabis grow. This is especially true for those cultivating on steep slopes. Fortunately, loam is also one of the most fertile types of soils, providing the optimal nutrient profile to support a healthy crop.
To better understand the water demands of a cannabis farm, it is necessary to study the relationship between groundwater and surface water. These interactions must be simulated in a model. However, there are not many studies that are available for testing the efficacy of different technologies and methods of water management.
One way to quantify the effectiveness of drip irrigation is to determine the efficiency of a system’s ability to drip water into the roots of the plant. A high-quality drip system will result in a premium quality harvest.
One of the more practical aspects of drip irrigation is that it allows the soil to absorb the water gradually. This makes it more suitable for administering water over a long period of time.
Air quality
Air quality has been a problem for agricultural communities for over a century. Cannabis cultivation is no exception. The plant is known for its ability to absorb heavy metals and contribute to soil erosion. While the industry has been growing in number and popularity, it has not been fully studied for its air quality impact.
The first comprehensive cannabis emissions inventory of its kind was produced by researchers in Colorado. This study is the first to incorporate both outdoor and indoor measurements of a variety of terpenes. It also identifies the top three BVOCs emitted by the cannabis crop and estimates their relative contribution to overall statewide emissions. Although a lot of data is missing, these findings should serve as a roadmap for future investigations.
There is no single measurement that can quantify all terpenes produced by the cannabis crop. However, the study suggests that the best approach is to conduct a life cycle assessment to better understand the impact of the plant on the surrounding environment. Another important factor to consider is how the plant is cultivated. Outdoor cultivation requires a great deal of water and land clearing. Indoor cultivation is an energy intensive process that consumes a fair amount of electricity. In order to minimize the environmental impacts, precision irrigation should be considered.
While the industry is in its infancy, it’s likely that the state of the art will evolve in the near future. Currently, the Denver metro region is home to more than 600 licensed cannabis cultivation facilities. Most are located in commercial warehouses. They emit a small but not insignificant amount of biogenic BVOCs. Despite these modest emissions, the cannabis industry has an undeniable impact on the local ecosystem.
To gauge how this crop is affecting the air around it, the study used an air quality model called InMAP. InMAP was designed to simulate the steady-state annual average changes in PM2.5 concentrations produced by emissions. A full Eulerian chemical transport model was employed to simulate the processes that lead to these changes. Emittances were estimated for each state using a series of matrices modeled using the aforementioned model. Interestingly, emissions are highest in Denver County.
Soil quality
Cannabis cultivation practices have been examined by many researchers. But there are still very few studies that have addressed the impact of cannabis cultivation on air quality, water pollution and soil erosion. However, future studies are expected to help address the issues surrounding the impact of cannabis cultivation on the environment.
Among the impacts of cultivation, water pollution is one of the most common problems. Water diversion is a common practice, but it can lead to environmental concerns. Some studies have shown that surface water diversions for irrigation cause dewatering of streams, and this may have a direct impact on the amount of cannabis grown in a watershed.
Other potential environmental concerns involve the uptake of heavy metals by cannabis. Cannabis plants can store these heavy metals in their tissues and in the roots. The terpenes contained in the plant’s cells are also potential contaminates.
Plant nutrients are commonly found in irrigation water at low levels. This is because most agricultural soils contain a small amount of organic matter. Organic matter is the byproduct of decomposition of plant and animal residues and it helps the soil hold water and nutrients. It also improves the health of the soil.
Among the potential environmental implications of cannabis cultivation is the use of fertilizers. These nutrients are necessary for good growth, but excess nitrogen can have adverse multi-scale effects. High alkalinity can also interfere with nutrient uptake, and high soluble salts can directly affect the root systems.
Another significant impact of cannabis cultivation is its energy usage. It is estimated that indoor cannabis cultivation requires an average of 6074 kWh kg-yield-1 of electricity, which is equivalent to 11,414 miles driven by an average passenger vehicle. Indoors, the energy consumption is limited by the cost of equipment and the need to maintain precise microclimate conditions.
Outdoor cannabis cultivation is generally considered to be less environmentally damaging, but it is important to keep in mind that the environment is not unaffected. For example, rain and wind can cause soil erosion. In some cases, terracing can be used to control soil erosion.
Environmental impacts
One of the greatest challenges that cannabis growers face is getting enough water. Whether cannabis cultivation takes place on the farm, outdoors or indoors, it requires a sufficient supply of water. In addition to the direct demands of growing plants, cannabis farms must dispose of process-water discharges, as well.
Cannabis cultivation occurs on a regional scale, meaning that different sites are likely to use different amounts of water. Additionally, the types of crops that are cultivated vary, making it important to consider both the amount of water used and the storage capacity of the growing site.
While estimates of water demand for cannabis cultivation have previously been extrapolated, these estimates have not taken into account the variations in cultivation type, soil properties and crop management. As a result, they are incomplete. The current study relies on data from the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board’s Cannabis Program.
Research on the environmental impacts of cannabis cultivation is still underway. However, a study conducted by Illinois State University researchers has found that growing cannabis inside is significantly more water-intensive than growing outdoors. It also found that improperly using pesticides by growers is a major threat to the environment.
Another major environmental issue related to cannabis growth is that it can lead to dewatering of streams. When plants are irrigated during drought periods, there is a high risk of streams becoming depleted. For this reason, it is important to conduct studies on the impacts of water use on watersheds.
Moreover, the impact of cannabis cultivation on air quality has been studied. Researchers have discovered that terpenes, the chemical compounds that are responsible for different flavors and aromas of cannabis, can be toxic to employees when they react with ozone. Similarly, the misuse of pesticides by cannabis growers is a direct threat to wildlife.
In addition to the environmental effects of cannabis cultivation, there are economic impacts. For example, it may be necessary to obtain air permits for construction, operation of the facility and for installation of equipment. Some states will also require recordkeeping.
Despite the potential of cannabis to contribute to air pollution and water pollution, it is important to remain diligent in ensuring that companies maintain a proper understanding of regulations. This will help ensure the transition of cannabis agriculture to a legal market.
