Current’s Senior Plant Scientist, Hans Spalholz, Ph.D., is teaming up with Dr. Ricardo Hernández, Ph.D., who is conducting research on the effects of light intensity on cannabis crops in a controlled environment. Along with being a horticulture expert with degrees in plant physiology and agronomy, Dr. Hernández is also an assistant professor in the Department of Horticultural Science at NC State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Dr. Hernández is also the co-founder of Grafted Growers and SIGS™, giving him firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing growers today.
The purpose of the research Hans and Dr. Hernández are conducting is to determine the ideal supplemental lighting intensity for producing the highest level of vegetative biomass possible with the objective to produce larger flower yields in cannabis. Their research will gather data on two critical cannabis growth stages—the vegetative stage and flowering stage—to identify effects on complete plant morphology. Just as important, they will evaluate differences in the flower cannabinoid and terpene profiles between supplemental light treatments and two model streams (indoor versus greenhouse production) to truly understand the impact of vegetative stage conditions on the final flower product.
Dr. Hernández, as well as the students in the university’s horticultural science department, examine the cannabis plants from an eco-physiology point of view to gain better insight and understand of how the plant responds to different environmental factors involved in controlled environment horticulture. This includes light intensity and quality, temperature and CO2 concentration, among others. They apply the results of their research to maximize plant development, improve growth rate and ultimately increase yields. Overall, the Hernández lab’s objective is to improve horticultural indoor production while increasing the sustainability of their existing systems.
To support that endeavor, Current is supplying Dr. Hernández’s lab with 26 Arize Element L1000 fixtures and accompanying LightSweep controls. The fixtures will help Dr. Hernández and the department expand their research horizons and provide numerous learning opportunities.
That is what Current is all about: empowering the next generation of growers and horticulture experts like Hans and Dr. Hernández. We give educators and growers alike the tools and resources necessary to open new doors into the always growing database of plant knowledge for the benefit of students, growers and researchers in the U.S. and beyond.
We hope this is just the beginning of our research and partnership with Dr. Hernández and NCSU’s Department of Horticultural Science.
Colin Woodford