13Essentials Cannabis Trial Oct 2016 Jan Cannabis Trial Michigan, USA October January 2017

Transcription

1 Cannabis Trial Michigan, USA October January 2017 Commissioned by Nualgi America Inc. 100 E San Marcos Boulevard, Suite 400, San Marcos CA Author: Joseph Aroner PCA of Erdbeden Consulting Trial Grower: SHYC LLC Published on: May 9, 2017

2 Table of Contents Introduction 2 Method and Materials 2 Milestones 4 Results 5 Conclusion 7 Appendix 8

3 1. Introduction: 13Essentials is an advanced Nano Scale foliar spray which combines a balanced mix of 13 plant nutrients in a single formulation. It contains primary nutrients (P, K) ; Secondary nutrients (Ca, Mg, S ); Micro nutrients ( Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo); and, in addition, Silica (Si) and Cobalt (Co). The particles are between 1 and 30 nano meters in size and each nutrient is adsorbed on to a silica molecule preventing them from bonding with each other, water, or the atmosphere. Due to its fine particle size, the nutrients are absorbed through by the plant, delivering all the nutrients essential for an efficient photosynthesis directly on the leaf. 13Essentials use efficiency is up to 40 times more efficient than traditional sulfate micronutrients and five times as efficient as chelated micronutrient fertilizers on the market. The purpose of the trial with SHYC LLC is to determine if 13Essentials will increase the quantity (grams cured dry weight) and quality (THC and Terpenes content) aspects of Cannabis grown in an environmentally controlled Coco fiber hydroponic system. 2. Methods and Materials: The replicated trial consists of three treatments and a control (Grower Standard). Each treatment and the control consist of 3 replications of 5 plants (15 plants total per treatment/control, 60 plants total for the trial). The treatments are 50% of Grower Standard (GS) + Nualgi Foliar (NF), 70% of Grower Standard + NF, and 100% GS + NF. All treatments and the control have the same cultural practices and preparation: Strain, planting date, planting density, and fertilizer. All plants are of the same clone and were cloned in 2 rock wool cubes, then transferred to #5 black pots (~3.5 gal) filled with coco fiber media (Coconut Coir) for the duration of the trial. The Strain used for the trial, Gorilla Glue #4, and was chosen for its known value to the medical cannabis community, popularity, and parentage. Gorilla Glue #4, developed by GG Strains, is a hybrid strain delivering large yields of flowers and heavy potency inherited from its parent strains, Chem s Sister, Sour Dubb, and Chocolate Diesel. Gorilla Glue #4's notoriety has been established with first place awards from Michigan and Los Angeles 2014 Cannabis Cups as well as the High Times Jamaican World Cup. Lighting for the trial consisted of a Autopilot PX1 (SKU APDPX1) lighting controller with eight Phantom DE 100 watt ballasts and four Phantom SE Wing reflector. Bulbs used for vegetation cycle were four Hortilux Super Blue HPS/MH (High Pressure Sodium and Metal Halide) delivering 110,000 lumens with a color temperature of 3000K. The Vegetative Phase consisted of 6 weeks of 18 hrs ON / 6 hrs OFF and the Flowering Phase consisted of 9 weeks of 12 hrs ON / 12 hrs OFF. The Flower Cycle consisted of ramping down blue light emitting bulbs and ramping up red spectrum bulbs over several weeks. The following weeks ramped up wattage of HPS bulbs and a decrease of MH bulbs. Here is a table of the bulbs and timing. Week 1: (4) Hortilux MH 1000 watts + (3) Phantom DE HPS 600 watts Week 2: (3) Hortilux MH 600 watts + (4) Phantom DE HPS 1000 watts Week 3-4: (2) Solis Tek 10K DE 1000 watts + (6) Phantom DE HPS

4 600 watts Weeks 5-7: (2) SE Solis Tek 10K watts + (7) Phantom DE HPS 750 watts Fertilizer used for the trial was B.C. Hydroponic Nutrients made by Technaflora Plant Products Ltd. Label rates were used for each stage of the trial (Appendix A). Botanicare CAL- Mag2-0-0 a Calcium and Magnesium supplement was also applied via labeled rates (Appendix B). Applications of 13Essentials were applied via a pump sprayer at intervals of once per week at a rate or 5 ml (approximately 1 teaspoon) diluted in 1 gallon (3.785 Liters) of distilled water. Applications were applied as specified by the label with full coverage of the applied plants, and continued every week until all treatments had completed the trial length. The ph of the fertilizer solution averaged 6.0. The PPM of the fertilizer solution for the treatments were as follows: 100%=1000ppm, 70%= 700ppm, 50%=500ppm. The corresponding Electroconductivity (E.C.) is as follows: 100%=1.56, 70%=1.09, 50%=.78. The equipment used for storage and irrigation is as follows in the table below. 100 Gal RO holding tank - QTY 1 50 Gal feeding reservoir - QTY 3 Danner 950 Mag drive pump - QTY 3 Danner AP40 air pump - QTY 1 Irrigations were ramped up over the course of the trial with one irrigation per day at the beginning of the vegetative cycle and progressing to two irrigations a day by the end of the vegetative cycle. Flowering cycle saw the irrigations increase to three times daily with 5 minutes pre-light, 3 minutes midday, and 5 minutes at the end of day using a 2GPH micro sprinkler. The plants were set up on a drain to waste system and irrigation scheduling was set up to maintain even moisture throughout the cycle with plants using approximately ½ gallon of nutrient solution per day. The environment was climate controlled to ensure the optimum growing conditions. A split 2 ton conditioner unit was used to maintain the temperature. During the vegetative cycle the temperature averaged 78 degrees Fahrenheit and during the flowering cycle the temperature averaged 74 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity was controlled by two Frigidaire 70pt dehumidifiers. The relative humidity during the vegetative cycle averaged 75%. During the flowering cycle the relative humidity was lowered to 50%. Harvests were conducted on January 28, All plants were labeled and weighed, and allowed to dry 4 days before a one week curing process. Upon completion of curing, all plants were processed and weighed for total dry weight, usable trim, flower, and waste. After physical measurements were completed a 2 gram sample from each replication treatment was sent to PSI Labs of Ann Arbor, Michigan for chemical analysis. The components of chemical analysis consisted of Major Cannabinoids (Δ9-THC, CBD, CBN) and Minor Cannabinoids (CBG, CBC, THCV). Terpenoid Profile was also conducted of the following: Alpha-Pinene, Camphene, Linalool, Beta-Myrcene, Beta-Pinene, D-Limonene, Caryophyllene, Humulene, Alpha-Bisabolol.

5 3. Milestones: Clones rooted and transplanted to coco: Oct 14, 2016 Transplanted to final pot: Nov 14, 2016 Vegetative cycle begin: Oct 20, 2016 Flower cycle begin: Nov 28, 2016 Harvest date: Jan 28, 2017 Time to dry: 4 days Time to cure: 1 week (before sending samples for testing) 4. Results: Initial weights of all the treatments were encouraging to say the least, the following table of average weight per plant by treatment follows Height (in) Dry Wt (g) Trim (g) Flower (g) Waste (g) Control Percent GS +13 Essentials Percent GS +13 Essentials Percent GS +13 Essentials *Grower Standard (GS) The 100% Grower Standard plus the 13Essentials treatment outpaced the other treatments across the board. When compared to the Control group of the grower Standard, the addition of 13Essentials improved flower weight by 29.2%, while the usable trim and waste also increased 43.4% and 42.5% respectively. One of the interesting aspects of the results was the 70% Grower Standard + 13Essentials, when compared to the control there was not statistically different between the two treatments. This indicates growers could decrease the total amount of fertilizer 30% with the addition of 13Essentials and still achieve grower standard results in yield. This observation gives evidence to the use efficiency of the addition of 13Essentials. Other interesting findings in the results are the total plant heights were not statistically different among the treatments, but the total dry weights were significant. This indicates while plants increased in biomass, the biomass was not put into height, but into stronger plant tissue to support an increased flower load in each succeeding treatment.

6 13Essentials Cannabis Trial Control 70 Percent GS +13 essentials 50 Percent GS +13 essentials Grams Percent GS +13 essentials Inches Dry Weight Trim Weight Flower Weight Wast Weight Height (inches) While the physical measurements of the trial had more insights to 13Essentials effectiveness in increasing yields, both Flower and Usable Trim, the chemical measurements where not conclusive in the ability of 13Essentials to increase potency in THC or CBD especially for 50% GS +13Essentials and the 100% GS +13Essentials. However, there was a difference between the 70% GS +13Essentials and the other treatments in increasing THC, CBN, and Total Cannabinoids. While the increases were significant in the Total Cannabinoids and CBN, to the other treatments the yield difference between the 100% GS +13Essentials and the 70% GS + 13Essentials would not merit a large enough economic value to the grower to lower the fertilizer rate 30%. The Total Terpenes analysis showed a difference in total Terpenes of the 50% GS + 13Essentials and the other treatments negatively, indicating 13Essentials played no role in Total Terpenes production. Furthermore, based on the Cannabinoids and Terpenes test results, we can asses there is a time component between the treatments to maturity. This time component leads us to believe the 13Essential treatments reached maturity about a week earlier than the control. Due to the constraints of the trial, harvest was set at a date when all plants reached full maturity. Treatment THC % CBD % CBN % Total Cannabinoids % Total Terpenes % Control % GS + 13 Essentials % GS + 13 Essentials % GS + 13 Essentials

7 13Essentials Cannabinoid and Terpenoid Analysis Control 50% GS + 13 Essentials 70% GS + 13 Essentials % GS + 13 Essentials Total Cannabinoids % THC % CBD % CBN % Total Terpenes % 5. Costs: In a cost comparison of fertilizer inputs for the trial, we found the following table intriguing as to economical amounts of yield gain per dollar of 13Essentials at Grower Cost of Fertilizer Per Plant Technaflora Grow Technaflora Boost Technaflora Bloom Botanicare Cal-Mag 13Essential Treatment $16.84/L $30.78/L $22.54/L $17.80/L $240/L Total Cost Control $2.90 $24.70 $10.31 $5.71 $0.00 $ % GS + 13Essentials $1.45 $12.35 $5.16 $4.05 $0.75 $ % GS + 13Essentials $2.03 $17.29 $7.22 $4.71 $0.75 $ % GS + 13Essentials $2.90 $24.70 $10.31 $5.71 $0.75 $44.38 Standard + 13 Essentials versus the Control. * All pricing data for fertilizer acquired from Amazon.com This comparison denotes a yield increase per plant of 31.6 grams of flower, 7.14 grams of usable trim at a cost of $0.75 a plant.

8 6. Conclusions: Adding 13Essentials to a grower s fertilizer regime for Cannabis will increase yields and will more than provide economic return on investment. While there is supporting evidence to reduce the grower standard fertilizer by 30% and keep yields consistent with 100% grower standard, the difference between the yield value of 100% grower standard + 13Essentials out ways the economic value of the reduced fertilizer cost. Not only does the flower yield provide economic sense, but the increase in usable trim also bolsters the argument for adding 13Essentials to grower's 100% fertilizer regime. Qualitatively there is no decrease in THC, CBD, or CBN potency or a reduction in Terpenes as yield increases. We can conclude the use of 13Essentials does not cause a loss of quality, 13Essentials enables growers to increase yield and while not diluting potency.

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