The hemp plant has been traditionally famous for its nutritious seeds and useful hemp fiber. Using it to manufacture CBD products is a newer application of the plant. CBD products are quite famous in the market due to their medical applications, and their demand is encouraging more people to choose hemp farming.
CBD products extracted from the hemp plant contain a negligible amount of the cannabinoid THC and their major content is the cannabinoid CBD. Hemp CBD products are legal in the US, provided, they maintain the level of THC below 0.3%. The market offers several CBD options belonging to different types like CBD topical, CBD edibles, CBD oils, etc.
Organic farming methods offer the best quality CBD products and several farming methods are available to cultivate hemp. Hydroponics is one of the numerous farming strategies.
What Is Hydroponics?
Hydroponics does not require soil and the plants are cultivated in water-based nutrient solutions. There is an increasing need for farming methods that are environment-friendly and economical at the same time, and hydroponics serves the demand well. The method suits commercial and domestic farming equally.
In hydroponics, the plant roots come in contact with nutrient solution and are also exposed to oxygen, and it offers an appreciable plant growth rate.
Hemp Cultivation Using Hydroponics
More farmers are switching to hydroponic hemp cultivation in order to meet the growing demand. During the growth cycle, the needs of the plant might vary and the varying needs have to be addressed in hydroponic cultivation. Proper attention should be given to factors like temperature, nutrition, adequate housing, etc in order to ensure healthy plant growth.
Hydroponic systems improve the aeration of the roots and offer better control over the uptake of nutrients, which is why many cultivators find hydroponic hemp cultivation ideal.
Various Hydroponic Systems for Hemp Cultivation
Wick System
As the name suggests, a wick or rope is used to supply water and nutrients into the root system. When a root area dries, the concentration gradient pulls up nutrients and water into the target area. The system does not suit larger plants and hemp plants that have matured beyond the seedling stage.
Deep Water Culture (DWC)
In DWC a large reservoir filled with nutrient solution and water is used to house the hemp plants, and an air pump operates to oxygenate the water. Since it is a deep water system, the plants are kept inside a net, which offers them the necessary support while in water. The system is not suitable for large plants.
Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)
It is similar to DWS but the plants are placed in a trough above the reservoir and a pump brings water up the trough. Water falls back into the reservoir through a slanting section.
When you aim for better productivity from cultivating any crop, you have to select the best possible farming strategy. Since hydroponics is entirely based on water, water availability is a crucial factor that influences the selection of hydroponics strategy.