Knowledge of your soils mineral and microbial balance, and the quality of you water source are some of the most important aspects to successful farming. Taking soil, water and tissue samples throughout the season will give you the most accurate picture of what is going on in your field. It will also give you the opportunity to take corrective action before issues arise that can compromise yields and prevent potentially stressful situations that can cause THC levels to spike.
Recent developments in microbial amendment strategies for hemp have shown some promising results in increasing CBD production and in some cases, simultaneously reducing THC levels in crops. Using these biologicals may improve the chance of a compliant harvest of fully matured buds where the end goal is to utilize the trimmed flower for smokables. If this is your ambition, it is highly recommended that you implement a weekly testing protocol to monitor THC levels to ensure your crop remains below the .3% THC legal threshold.
Concerning pest and disease controls: Planting seeds over clones provides some resiliency against pests, but it does not make your crop immune to the potential damage and ultimately loss in yield that can occur from pests and disease. Healthy soil biome is the foundation for healthy plants. Improper irrigation practices can cause stress leading to attack from pests and diseases. Keep your soil moisture levels in a range where the soil never dries out, but is rarely if only briefly fully saturated (standing water for days on end in a field is problematic). Pre-planning your row direction and layout based on winter runoff patterns will help to mitigate some of these challenges. Also, we highly recommend getting a soil test and professional soil and water analysis prior to amending your field. Please contact us for recommendations on how to best to manage your fields soil health.