Nitrogen Source Matters: High NH4/NO3 Ratio Reduces Cannabinoids, Terpenoids, and Yield in Medical Cannabis

Avia Saloner; Nirit Bernstein

doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.830224

Nitrogen Source Matters: High NH₄/NO₃ Ratio Reduces Cannabinoids, Terpenoids, and Yield in Medical Cannabis

Front Plant Sci. 2022 Jun 1:13:830224. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.830224. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Avia Saloner^{1

2}, Nirit Bernstein¹

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Volcani Center, Rishon LeTsiyon, Israel.
² The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.

Abstract

The N form supplied to the plant, ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) or nitrate (NO₃ ^-), is a major factor determining the impact of N nutrition on plant function and metabolic responses. We have hypothesized that the ratio of NH₄/NO₃ supplied to cannabis plants affects the physiological function and the biosynthesis of cannabinoids and terpenoids, which are major factors in the cannabis industry. To evaluate the hypothesis we examined the impact of five supply ratios of NH₄/NO₃ (0, 10, 30, 50, and 100% N-NH₄ ⁺, under a uniform level of 200 mg L^-1 N) on plant response. The plants were grown in pots, under controlled environment conditions. The results revealed high sensitivity of cannabinoid and terpenoid concentrations and plant function to NH₄/NO₃ ratio, thus supporting the hypothesis. The increase in NH₄ supply generally caused an adverse response: Secondary metabolite production, inflorescence yield, plant height, inflorescence length, transpiration and photosynthesis rates, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll content, were highest under NO₃ nutrition when no NH₄ was supplied. Ratios of 10-30% NH₄ did not substantially impair secondary metabolism and plant function, but produced smaller inflorescences and lower inflorescence yield compared with only NO₃ nutrition. Under a level of 50% NH₄, the plants demonstrated toxicity symptoms, which appeared only at late stages of plant maturation, and 100% NH₄ induced substantial plant damage, resulting in plant death. This study demonstrates a dramatic impact of N form on cannabis plant function and production, with a 46% decrease in inflorescence yield with the increase in NH₄ supply from 0 to 50%. Yet, moderate levels of 10-30% NH₄ are suitable for medical cannabis cultivation, as they do not damage plant function and show only little adverse influence on yield and cannabinoid production. Higher NH₄/NO₃ ratios, containing above 30% NH₄, are not recommended since they increase the potential for a severe and fatal NH₄ toxicity damage.

Keywords: NH4; NO3; ammonium; cannabis; fertilizer; growth; nitrate; nitrogen.