Leaf Sap Analysis – Obtain the biggest benefits

Innexo is proud to announce the launch of a leaf sap analysis for cannabis in the Netherlands together with our partners from Brightlabs and Cultivators. Cannabis growers are now able to send in tissue from their plants to gain knowledge about what is happening in the plant itself. Plant sap analysis is also a key instrument to reduce fertilizer overuse.

One the key factors influencing plant health is plant nutrition. In cannabis, the crop cycles are short, meaning that each day in cultivation counts and small mistakes quickly become costly. How can you intervene in plant nutrition in a timely manner before symptoms become visual, at which point the damage is already done?

A method validated specifically for cannabis

Toghether with Brightlabs and Cultivators, we developed a validated method to ensure precise and actionable data for growers. Testing has revealed great differences between varieties in regards to nutrient uptake. During our validation experiments, multiple cannabis varieties were grown under a stable environment at either a very high EC (>3.0) or very low EC (<1.0) in the feed. Interestingly, some varieties grown at the low EC consistently showed to contain similar amounts of nutrients as other varieties grown at a high EC.

Leaf sap analysis enables growers to align nutrient delivery with the exact needs of their plants at any stage of growth by providing real-time data about the plant's internal nutrient composition. This dynamic approach allows growers to fine-tune their fertilization practices, reducing waste and ensuring that their plants receive what they need when they need it the most. Another major advantage of leaf sap analysis is the ability to identify nutrient imbalances before visible symptoms occur. This early warning system enables growers to proactively address deficiencies or toxicities, reducing their impact on your crop.

Leaf sap analysis reduces these risks by providing actionable insights into plant health and nutrient dynamics. This data allows producers to make informed decisions about fertilization, ensuring that crops remain vigorous and productive and improves batch-to-batch consistency.

Setting the baseline

To obtain the fastest return on investment, it is recommended to conduct a baseline analysis which aims to establish the range within individual varieties perform the best. The experiment will use a set number of varieties which are grown under controlled conditions. Leaf sap analysis will then reveal the plant’s behaviour under selected stressors like over- or underfeeding.

Depending on the available facilities, such a trial can be conducted on-site. However, this process is labor intensive and complex. To ensure success, it is recommended to set up the trial with the help of Cultivators. Alternatively, the baseline measurement can be conducted risk-free at Innexo.

Making optimal use of leaf sap analysis

The more data that is available, the more valuable the interpretation becomes. By sampling consistently, growers can establish an extensive knowledge library. The dataset is made up of the leaf sap analyses themselves, climate data, and drain water and feed analyses. As our internal testing has shown significant variety-dependent effects, each variety should be tested separately. In the end, the grower will have an overview of variety-specific responses to climate and nutrient recipes.

Leaf sap analysis allows growers to fine-tune their fertilization strategies, minimizing waste while optimizing plant nutrition at every stage of growth. By detecting nutrient imbalances before visible symptoms appear, growers can take proactive measures to prevent yield loss, maintain crop quality, and reduce environmental impact.

Curious to learn more? Download the whitepaper below!

Whitepaper Leaf Sap Analysis.pdf

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