Effect of irrigation and fertilization levels on mineral composition of cannabis sativa L. Leaves

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in central Greece to study, the effect of two irrigation (I1: 100% ETo, I2: 60% ETo) and N-fertilization levels (N1: 244, N2: 184 kg ha-1), on the nutrients concentration of Cannabis sativa leaves (cv. 'Fibranova'). The N, K, Ca, Mg, P -concentration in the leaves was ranged by 2.8 to 3.51%, 1.8 to 2.57%, 1.96 to 2.17%, 0.86 to 0.88%, and 0.3 to 0.37% respectively, while by the micronutrients the iron showed the highest concentration that ranged by 129 to 139.8 mg kg-1dw. The treatment I1F1, where the highest level of irrigation and N -fertilization was applied, compared to the other treatments, showed the highest dry biomass yield, however, in the leaves the highest concentrations of N, K, Mn and Cu were not observed. Moreover, it was found that the N, K, Ca, Mg, P and Fe removal only by one ton dry biomass of leaves was ranged by 28 to 35.12 kg, 18.01 to 25.65 kg, 19.6 to 21.7 kg, 8.34 to 8.75 kg, 3.01 to 3.70 kg and 0.129 to 0.140 kg, respectively. These results could contribute optimal fertilizer application and therefore to the reduction of production costs of the crop.