Like any other field, there is prospective value in integrating technology into cannabis cultivation. Growers can now rely on technology to offer advanced hardware, software, and even improvements in labour. With the continued growth of the marijuana industry, farmers are more likely to integrate improved technologies to boost production.
The current technological advancements relating to the weed sector are vast. Growers can use HVAC systems, AI and machine learning, sensors, and mobile applications. This article will analyse several issues to understand better how integrating technology in weed production is helpful.
How to Note Cannabis Deficiency Symptoms
Before we delve into the world of technology in the cannabis sector, it does help to look at some major growing issues with weed plants. Detecting Cannabis Deficiencies Symptoms https://askgrowers.com/blog/cannabis-deficiencies can be difficult even with sites like AskGrowers to guide farmers. The process requires keen attention to the plants and knowledge of the different growth stages.
Marijuana deficiency is a condition that causes abnormal attributes in the growing plants due to the lack of certain nutrients. The lack of different nutrients and vitamins will showcase various symptoms. To treat the underlying issue, the farmers must know what signs indicate deficiencies.
In this case, we will look at nutrient deficiency regarding the three main plant nutrients: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. Nitrogen is a critical plant nutrient responsible for plants’ green colour. When the nitrogen levels are low, the leaves start yellowing from the bottom, rising to the top. When the nitrogen is too high, the leaves turn a dark green and curl at the ends. The recommended treatment for such scenarios is to flush and water the plant using the right nutrients.
Regarding phosphorus deficiency, the most likely symptom would be the leaves turning a bluish-purple colour. They also develop black and dead spots on the older leaves, which happens just before they die. The treatment option includes flushing the plant, increasing the temperature, and reducing the amount of watering afterward.
Lastly, potassium deficiency manifests as curled leaves with a deep green colour. It is also possible to see some brown spots and interveinal yellowing. Potassium toxicity does not lead to visible signs but may prevent the absorption of other nutrients. The treatment option is flushing the plant with PH-adjusted water and recalibrating the nutrient solution.
Why Introducing Technology in Cannabis Production is Important
One of the most basic questions people ask regarding using technology is how they can benefit from it. It doesn’t matter whether it is in the education sector or the agricultural field. Consumers are intent on only using products that can help them in one way or the other.
Luckily there are several benefits to introducing technology in weed production. The Covid-19 aftermath saw people realize the great value of modern forms of technology. These benefits range from the ease of communicating with people via the Internet to purchasing online products from the comfort of their homes. In a way, the advancements make life easier for everyone.
Regarding the cannabis field, these advancements offer their users an edge over the competition. With each waking day, the weed industry is growing at phenomenal levels. Different investors are keen to provide products and services that outweigh their competition’. With that in mind, the more advancements a grower uses, the more likely it will have better production rates and sales.
As mentioned, increased productivity is a major reason to consider technology updates in the weed-growing sector. According to Green Vault Systems, innovations help growers interact better with their employees, maximize efficiency, and eliminate any downtime in the production process. Certain innovations allow farmers to monitor the growth processes more keenly.
Recently, AI systems have analysed and informed the growers of what nutrients to add and at what point. These systems go as far as regulating other growing needs, such as lighting, temperatures, and airflow. The potential of harvesting high-quality weed buds using modern innovations is fairly high.
Another critical reason why cannabis farmers should think of integrating modern advancements in their grows is cutting back production costs. Though initially integrating these systems is expensive, the result is more profitable. Using machine learning systems such as AI AgTech’sproposed drone sensors would reduce the labour force by a significant number. Besides reducing labour costs, AI systems also reduce the cost of pesticides and fertilizers.
Their scanning ability can detect pest and disease attacks and nutrient deficiencies early. Their detection could save growers the loss of most crops by alerting them to the needed treatments.
Comprehensively, introducing technology to your weed grows is highly beneficial. Not only does it cut down the cost of production, but it also improves the production processes significantly.
Challenges with Integrating Technology in Marijuana Seed Production
In an ideal world, integrating modern-day innovations in your cannabis farm would be seamless. This world is imperfect, and the process’s difficulties are very likely. One of the most critical problems is the cost of the same.
Technological systems are costly, and implementing the same is even more expensive. As a farmer, you must contact a professional and pay for their services. These services include the cost of onboarding the employees on how they can use the new systems.
Employee acceptance and learning of these new systems is another challenge. In most cases, agricultural professionals have used traditional growing techniques for years, if not decades. In such instances, training and integrating new systems in their daily use may prove difficult.
The other challenge comes with the upkeep cost of these advancements. As you may well know, technology keeps changing. Take mobile phones, for instance; they have had remarkable changes over the decades from flip phones to touch screens. As the advancements keep changing, farmers must integrate the same changes to stay relevant.
Weed Growth Sectors that Could Benefit from Technological Innovation
Regardless of the mentioned challenges, it cannot be denied that there is value in adding some innovations to your cannabis farm production processes. The following are the main sectors that can highly benefit from the same.
Crop Steering
The growth of cannabis plants plays on the environmental conditions and their ability to manipulate their growth hormones. The various changes result in plants from the same seeds having different cannabinoid levels and yields. Crop steering is a technological method that controls the ecological conditions for the plant’s maximum production.
With crop steering, farmers control growth aspects such as lighting, warmth, CO2 availability, and humidity. AI systems indicate the needed levels for the different conditions, and farmers can then change them to meet them. Crop steering can prevent deficiency issues and malnutrition of plants.
Genetic Engineering
Genetic engineering refers to the crossing of different genes of plants to develop superior strains. Researchers cross genes with favourable attributes to get a high-quality plant. The good qualities could be pest resistance, fast flowering times, and others. Genetic engineering allows farmers to have seeds suitable to their environmental conditions and needs.
Genetic engineering is not a new concept in the cannabis industry. Despite this fact, the introduction and advancement of technology continue to make the needed time for the same shorter. What would take months in the past can now be accomplished in weeks.
Data Storage and Sharing
Like several other sectors, data is important in the propagation of cannabis. Data, in this case, can be useful in charting future growth to avoid previous mistakes. Also, with well-kept data, farmers can evaluate which types of seeds offer high yields during a specific season.
Technology allows farmers to keep their data safe in cloud storage. They can share and access this data anytime they need. Also, with well-kept data, it is easier to indoctrinate new employees on the existing trends of the company. Data storage and sharing can also impact customer retention and the future productivity of the establishment.
Interpersonal Communication
The communication sector has seen the most remarkable growth because of innovations. Within the cannabis industry, farmers can benefit from the same by easily communicating with their employees and customers. The use of modern technology eases the process of employee training and management.
Conclusion
The positive impacts of technology over the past couple of decades have gotten worldwide assertion. Despite some negative effects, people comprehensively agree that technology is beneficial. In the marijuana industry, it continues to prove how useful it can be when the application is right. From the basic process of seed selection to crop steering and harvesting, innovations exist to make the work easier. Farmers can invest in these advancements to ensure their growth projections align with the changing demands. There are many ways that they can incorporate technology in their growing and marketing processes and benefit from the same.
Lana Braslavska wrote this piece. She has been part of the AskGrowers family for a couple of years and continues producing relevant materials. She is passionate about the cannabis industry and hopes to educate as many people as possible.
