Industrial Hemp: Determining Growing Conditions in North Carolina

Industrial hemp (IHP) is a multi-purpose crop delivering seeds, fibers and bio-active chemicals that have the potential for a number of uses and markets. Legalization of production of IHP in North Carolina has made it necessary to establish a data bank on best management practices (seed variety, planting practices, soil type, nutrient management, and pest management). The objective of this research is to determine the effect of different nutrient management and IHP cultivars on cannabidiol (CBD) production. Two varieties (Therapy by Oak City Hemp and Cherry Otto by Flat River Hemp) and four different fertilizer rates (F1: 0%; F2: 33%; F3: 66% and F4: 100% of nutrient solution General Hydroponics©) was used in this study. The transplants of each IHP variety were planted in early June 2018 using a randomized complete block split-plot experimental design with fertilization rate as the main plot factor and IHP variety as the sub-plot factor. Preliminary results indicated that the Therapy variety yielded 0.01 % tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 6.2% CBD at F1; 0.08 % THC and 3.86% CBD at F2; 0.1 % THC and 5.5% CBD at F3; and 0.07 % THC and 6.51% CBD at F4. Cherry Otto yielded 0.05 % THC and 3.2% CBD at F1; 0.05 % THC and 5.4% CBD at F2; 0.09 % THC and 3.48% CBD at F3 and 0.07 % THC and 3.86% CBD at F4. Our IHP production information will provide first-hand information for growers to develop new markets for potential IHP products. Keywords: Industrial hemp, CBD production, fertilizer rates Topic areas: Plant Health and Production and Plant Products, Renewable Energy, Natural Resources, and Environmen