No-till farming its a way of cultivating, that prioritizes the state of the soil and the relationship of the organisms that live in it. More than a method or set of techniques, the no-till is a philosophy, a way of understanding agriculture as the reproduction of an ecosystem. The soil is preserved and its natural processes are exploited, that is, the crop uses the interaction of living organisms living in the soil (plants, animals, bacteria, fungi, seaweed and others) and energy flows and Materials that cross it.
Tillage, whether its to eliminate weeds, aerate the soil, or prepare it for sowing; Involves breaking up the old soil and its layers of soil, creating unbalanced concentrations of bacteria, damaging fungal hyphae (the network of filaments that make up the body structure of fungi) and structures where larger organisms are (such as the caves of The worms). No-till agriculture rejects soil movements, as well as soil disturbance through chemical fertilizers and pesticides; Bacteria, fungi and living organisms are responsible for aerating and regenerating the soil.
The soil food chain
To understand what a balanced soil is, what soil organisms do, how they interact with each other, and how it affects plants, it is crucial to know how the soil food chain (the process of substance transfer) Nutrients through the different species that inhabit the soil).
Plants absorb solar energy and combine it with minerals and CO2, forming organic compounds that will serve as food for bacteria and fungi. These will excrete this organic matter in form of nutrients that will return to the plant as food.
Bacteria and fungi also feed on the root exudates. The plant varies the chemical composition of these exudates throughout the different stages of growth, to attract the organisms that are most beneficial to each of these phases.
These organisms are nematodes, protozoa, arthropods and earthworms.
They feed on bacteria and fungi, and excrete organic matter that is once again used as food, both for them and for plants. In addition, they aerate the substrate, improve its structure, provide natural fertilizers and help us regulate the pH.
No-till growing cannabis
When we talk about No-till applied to marijuana cultivation, we are talking about growing on an organically rich soil. It is a technique that we can apply to large and small scale, valid for both interior and exterior. It is about creating our own soil, a living and balanced soil, which is practically self-sustaining and reusable season after season, able to regenerate through its own natural processes without needing to remove it, add nutrients, fertilizers or chemicals; And reward us with healthy and quality plants.
Sounds great, right?
As always, the practice is often more complex than theory and, while it would be wonderful to create our cannabis ecosystem, as a forest of green marijuana plants that we would not have to water and contemplate with love, the truth is that our soil will require Care and certain maintenance on our part. We will have to be aware of our plants in order to identify the deficiencies they may have and try to rectify them.
Advantages and Disadvantages of No-till
The advantages of this technique are many and very significant:
- Rugged floor
- Natural soil aeration
- Good moisture retention
- Good drainage
- Sustainable cultivation
- Natural and ecological product
- Pure flavors, terpenes are not altered by chemicals or pesticides
- Economic savings in materials (fertilizers, nutrients, chemicals ...)
- Time saving (if our crop is self-sustaining we will not need to be on top during the growing process).
On the other hand, the biggest drawback of living soil is precisely this, its alive. The fact that our culture contains a large number of microorganisms does not mean that all of them are beneficial, it also includes those that are not, as well as those that cause diseases and pests. When we promote life on the ground, what we do is promote fungi, bacteria, mites, worms and even large insects.
This is why balance is essential. A balanced soil is a healthy soil. Fungi, bacteria and beneficial organisms help us regulate those that are not, suppress their harmful effects and naturally control mites, bad fungi and pests without the need for pesticides.
How to make a living soil
To create an organic, self-sustaining soil that we can reuse, the main thing is to create a good foundation. There are those who start with a highly fertilized land, those who prefer a lighter one, some add perlite, some coconut fiber ... There are even those who simply grab a handful of worms and throw them into their pots.
Know that: there is no definitive formula. Every grower has his master recipe and only practice and time will tell you where you do good and where you fail, what you can add and what to discard.
Our recipe:
1. Choose a good soil, which is biological and lightly fertilized (lightmix type). Add a little coconut fiber, this will provide us with spongyness and a good retention of moisture that will help us with the absorption of nutrients. If you want, you can also add vermiculite for good aeration and water retention.
2. Then add compost in equal parts (same amount of compost as in the previous mix). You can make your own compost or buy organic matter already decomposed (guano or humus). If you do composting at home make sure it is ripe when you add it (you should prepare it at least a couple of months in advance). Although you use your own compost we recommend that you also add bat guano and worm humus, thus ensuring your plants the phosphorus and potassium necessary for the flowering phase.
3. Add trichoderma and mycorrhizae to the mix to prevent harmful fungi and help balance fungi and bacteria while the plants are still young.
4. Finally you can add seaweed to give greenery and vitamins to your plants, and provide them with the necessary nutrients for the vegetative phase; And calcium to facilitate absorption of nutrients, stimulate growth and assist regulation of the pH of the substrate.
5. Mix everything very well.
Once you have the mixture:
1. Water mixture to check for drainage. Pour about 3l of water per 10l of mixture (approx.). Cannabis needs a soil with good drainage capacity, which maintains moisture and,at the same time, its capable of drying almost completely between irrigation and irrigation. Wait 24 hours and analyze the results. To do this take a handful of mixture. The hand should stay moist, but not wet. If it is still wet add more coconut fiber (if you prefer you can add vermiculite).
2. Check the ph. You must wait 24 hours more to water again and check that the ph is between 5.5 and 6.5. If it is too high, adding more compost will slow it down (not adding sulfur or iron sulfate, although they are organic and it is true that they lower the ph, are toxic to many microorganisms and their acidity would seriously damage soil life). If on the contrary the pH is low add more calcium. Dolomite is also effective to raise the pH, is of organic origin and will also bring you magnesium, iron and other minerals.
3. Your soil is already ready for sowing. Now you can plant seeds or cuttings (that come from organic soil, of course).
Our tips:
- Worms can be good allies: eat dead roots and harmful fungi, aerate the soil and provide a constant source of nutrients. Adding live worms to the soil ensures food to the plants throughout the crop and eliminates the need to go adding compost.
You can buy live worms or make your own vermicompost (compost with worms). Eye, if your soil has earthworms do not use mineral fertilizers! He will kill them.
The worms will be at their widest on large surfaces or outdoors. If your pots are small you can also use them, but when they run out of food they will leave or die.
- Mini shamrocks or white shamrocks are great floormates for your plants. When your plants have grown a little (4 or 5cm) spread some seeds on the surface of the soil. Clovers provide much-needed micronutrients at certain stages of growth, fix nitrogen to the soil and help maintain moisture.
- Adding molasses to the water (one or two tablespoons) helps to stabilize the population of beneficial microbes.
- Watch the water. Tap water contains chlorine and chemicals that can be deadly for bacteria in your soil, and unbalances the pH. Uses osmotized water or rainwater.
-Do not use chemical fertilizers. It is not just an ecological issue. These fertilizers contain salts that can be toxic to soil organisms. They also acidify and dry the soil.
- Do not use pesticides, even if they are ecological. Balance your soil to fight any pest or fungus problem. Pesticides are loaded with beneficial organisms, promoting the emergence of herbs and pests that these organisms should keep them stable. In addition, the lack of organisms cakes the soil and compacts it.
The super soil
Subcool, an expert cultivator and founder of the TGA seed bank, popularized its own organic soil mix. As we discussed above, there is no single recipe. However, for us it is a law to mention the work of this outstanding cultivator in this area.
The grace of this technique, beyond a long list of ingredients, is that the soil is not homogeneous, but consists of two layers:
- Base soil: is the top layer of soil, where it is planted. It contains everything the plant will need during the vegetative phase of its growth.
- Super Soil: deeper layer containing a lot of nutrients. During the vegetative phase the roots are above this and it is not until the flowering, when they need more nutrients, that arrive until here.
Below you will find a video detailing the process and ingredients that Subcool uses for Super Soil.
For the next harvest
Once you have collected the precious fruits of your harvest, simply cut the plants near the base and dig up the roots. Do not worry if there are some old roots, stalks or leaves. All this organic matter will become part of the ecosystem.
Now is the time to keep the earth alive, protected and nourished. You should not make the mix again, the grace of a living soil is to maintain it and to become more resistant. However, if that you should help your balance and regeneration. Add compost to the soil surface (do not remove the soil!) To provide a good amount of food. What has been missing from your plants? Add trichoderma, mycorrhiza,seaweed, calcium ... Depending on the deficits that your plants have shown throughout the crop.
A good idea to help your soil regenerate are cover crops (as with clovers above). Get a handful of beans, peas or patches (ecological, if they are not will not grow) and sprinkle between cultivation and cultivation, add the compost above. You do not have to grow too much or much less that you dedicate to cultivate them, you can cut them when you need it. The roots of these legumes fix the nitrogen to the earth and act in symbiosis with the mycorrhizae. The soil is easier to stay alive if it maintains a continuous exchange with plants.
At this point nobody knows your soil and your plants better than you. It's time to get better. After the first crop evaluate the results and takes advantage to rectify and supply the deficiencies of your plants from the ground, thus you will get plants increasingly healthy and of better quality.
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