Development of Chemical and Granular Organic Fertilizer with Hormone Mixed Formula (HO) Compared to Chemical Fertilizer on Yield, Yield Quality and Cost-effective of Cannabis (Cannabis Sativa L.) in Outdoor Condition

Abstract

This research aimed to develop a chemical and granular organic fertilizer with hormone mixed formula (HO) and compare it with chemical fertilizers on the yield, yield quality and cost-effective of cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) cultivated in outdoor condition. The experiment was conducted using 17-size pots filled with 12 kg of growing media, using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 13 treatments and 6 replications, totaling 78 pots. The treatments included: T1 - No fertilizer (Control), T2 - Chemical fertilizer 25-7-7 (50 kg/rai, 1 rai = 0.16 ha), T3 - Chemical fertilizer 25-7-7 (100 kg/rai), T4 - Chemical fertilizer 16-8-8 (50 kg/rai), T5 - Chemical fertilizer 16-8-8 (100 kg/rai), T6 - Chemical fertilizer 15-15-15 (50 kg/rai), T7 - Chemical fertilizer 15-15-15 (100 kg/rai), T8 - HO-1 (50 kg/rai), T9 - HO-1 (100 kg/rai), T10 - HO-2 (50 kg/rai), T11 - HO-2 (100 kg/rai), T12 - HO-3 (50 kg/rai), and T13 - HO-3 (100 kg/rai). The test plant was 25-day-old Hang Kra Rok Phu Phan ST1 cannabis seedlings. The experiment was carried out from November 2022 to June 2023 at Moo 7, Wang Nok Aen Sub-district, Wang Thong District, Phitsanulok Province. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and DMRT at 95% confidence level.
The results showed that the HO-1, HO-2, and HO-3 fertilizers had moderate levels of primary macronutrients (N-P-K) and high levels of secondary macronutrients (Ca-Mg-S) and micronutrients (Fe-Cu-Zn-Mn), while the chemical fertilizers had higher overall primary macronutrient (NPK) content but lacked the secondary and micronutrients. The HO fertilizers had a pH ranging from 6.5 to 6.7, which was suitable for plant nutrient uptake. In terms of growth parameters, the top three performing treatments were T13 (HO-3, 100 kg/rai), T12 (HO-3, 50 kg/rai), and T11 (HO-2, 100 kg/rai), which showed statistically significant differences. For yield and yield components, T13 (HO-3, 100 kg/rai) exhibited the highest values, which were significantly different from the other treatments. This treatment also had the highest THC (10.5%) and CBD (0.95%) contents. The economic analysis showed that T13 (HO-3, 100 kg/rai) had the highest profit of 170,010 baht/rai, while all the HO fertilizer treatments (T8-T13) were profitable, and the chemical fertilizer treatments (T2-T7) showed losses due to lower yields and higher production costs. In conclusion, the development of the HO fertilizer was successful, and the T13 (HO-3, 100 kg/rai) treatment was the most effective for outdoor cannabis cultivation, as it resulted in the highest plant growth, yield, THC/CBD content and highest profit.