What is Crop Steering??

Crop steering might sound like something from a sci-fi movie, but it's actually a commonly used technique in the world of agriculture. According to Athena, it's an "advanced cultivation technique that manipulates key factors of growing, such as irrigation, temperature, humidity, and light to precisely guide plant growth towards desired outcomes." In simpler terms, it's about tweaking various growing conditions to get the best out of your plants.

Now, let's talk about how this applies to cannabis. This is where things get interesting. Cannabis cultivation has always been more art than science, but crop steering brings a scientific edge to it.

In cannabis, there are several "levers" you can adjust to manipulate the plant:

1. Root Zone/Media EC/Salinity: Adjusting the electrical conductivity and salinity in the growing medium can impact nutrient uptake and overall plant health.
2. Root Zone/Media Moisture: Managing moisture levels to ensure optimal growth without overwatering or underwatering.
3. Environment VPD: Vapour Pressure Deficit is key in managing the balance between temperature and humidity for ideal growing conditions.
4. Light Intensity: The amount and type of light received can dramatically alter a plant's growth and potency.

Each of these levers contributes to how the plant grows and expresses its genetic potential. Different strains react differently to these adjustments, making it crucial to test, record data, make changes, and repeat for each strain to master crop steering.

The Goals of Crop Steering in Cannabis

Cannabis crop steering often focuses on manipulating the irrigation schedule to achieve different growth goals. Through this, cultivators aim to increase flower weight, boost THC levels, enhance terpene profiles, and even improve yields for concentrates.

Commercial Aspects

Most commercial crop steering methodologies are centered around increasing yield. This focus aligns with the priorities of many commercial cultivators, who are primarily concerned with maximizing their output.

The Balancing Act

It's vital to understand that everything in crop steering is a balance between Quality, Yield, and Resources. Finding the happy medium is key, especially since there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach.

Conclusion

Crop steering in cannabis isn't just about growing more; it's about growing smarter. By understanding and manipulating the environment and growth factors, cultivators can push their crops towards specific goals, be it higher THC content, better terpene profiles, or more abundant yields. It's a blend of science and art, and finding the proper recipe for your specific goals is what crop steering is all about.