If you have been around long enough, chances are you have heard the claim that ‘hemp can grow anywhere.’ To a large degree, and excluding arctic regions, that claim is technically true. The hemp plant is one of the most resilient crops on the planet, and if quality and quantity are not a concern, it can grow in most parts of the world.
However, there is a big difference between simply growing hemp and growing it well. For most farmers and members of the hemp industry, quality matters. With that in mind, the conditions in which hemp is grown matter, and it directly impacts the quality and quantity of the harvest.
A team of researchers based in China and affiliated with various academic and agricultural institutions examined the role that the light spectrum plays in hemp growth. The investigators’ findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
“In the present study, the effect of red light in combination with UV-A light on hemp biomass and cannabinoid accumulation was investigated using a high-CBD strain.” the researchers wrote. “There were four treatments: (1) white light throughout the growth period (control; VWRW); (2) red light supplementation during the vegetative stage (VWRRW); (3) UV-A supplementation (VWRWUV) during the flowering stage; and (4) combined red and UV-A supplementation (VWRRWUV) during the vegetative and flowering stages.”
“Results showed that VWRRW promoted the number of effective branches (increased by 18.0%) compared to the control (VWRW), resulting in an increase in inflorescence yield by 17.9%. VWRWUV increased CBG and CBD content by 52.7% and 12.1%, respectively, relative to the control. The effect of VWRRWUV on biomass and cannabinoid accumulation was the strongest among the treatments, with CBG and CBD yields reaching 0.53 g and 4.62 g per plant, representing significant increase of 91.8% (p < 0.01) and 44.1% (p < 0.01), respectively, compared to the control.” the researchers found.
“However, there were no significant differences in CBD yield among the VWRRW, VWRWUV and VWRRWUV treatments, indicating that the combined supplementation of red and UV-A light did not have an additive effect on CBD accumulation. These findings highlight the potential of stage-specific spectral strategy to optimize both plant growth and phytochemical quantity.” the researchers concluded.
More and more jurisdictions around the world are modernizing their hemp laws and regulations to permit hemp cultivation. In some cases, nations are embracing and strongly supporting their domestic hemp industries for various reasons, including to boost local economies and provide farmers with a more sustainable crop to cultivate.
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