Organic production of medical Cannabis – Part I
by Dr. Silke Will
In our blog, we will introduce different aspects of growing conditions of Cannabis and will discuss the possibility, methods and limits of organic and vegan Cannabis cultivation.
Conventional agriculture relies on regular applications of mineral fertilizers containing essential plant nutrients, especially nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Mineral nitrogen fertilizers are made from atmospheric nitrogen, which is converted using an energy-intensive method, consuming 1-2% of the world energy production. Phosphorus fertilizers are produced by treating mined phosphate rock with sulphuric acid. Apart from the high energy cost of producing these fertilizers with limited natural resources, harm is also caused to the environment by their application. On average, only about half of nitrogen fertilizers and 20 percent of phosphate fertilizers are taken up by crops. Most of the applied nutrients are immobilized in soils, run off into waterways, are leached into groundwater or lost in gaseous forms, contributing to global warming and over-fertilization of natural ecosystems. Many regions including Europe are introducing legislation to reduce the use of mineral fertilizers in agriculture.
In conventional greenhouse production the input of fertilizers and water consumption is way below in comparison to field production. The reuse of waste- and dew water can reach up to 95% of water staying in the grow cycle. By measuring the wastewater (outflow of the cultivation system) the input of minerals can be calculated.
Nevertheless, minerals derive from limited natural resources and there are a lot of efforts to find sustainable cultivation systems for organic greenhouse production. The increase in world’s population will force the politics and companies to find innovative cultivation systems supporting precise growing including the idea of sustainability. Organic farming practices in tomato greenhouse production could increase yield and quality by using N-rich organic recycling fertilizers, based on animal manures, blood and bone meal in combination with bioeffectors, such as seaweed.
So far, standardized cultivation methods to grow organic Cannabis has not yet been developed. Organic Cannabis cultivation in Grow Tends on a small scale has a high potential for organic and vegan cultivation as a fist step for reducing the environmental impact of Cannabis cultivation and a more sustainable future.
