testiclees
Well-Known Member
The "advancing eco agriculture" thread on IC has a bunch of posts discussing K, Ca and brix.
Low K, high BRIX
- Thread starter churchhaze
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testiclees
Well-Known Member
This bit of K information is from the "balancing soil minerals" thread at ic. Its a post by michael astera:
The "Ideal" soil ratios with K @ 4% of CEC were developed with the goal of growing the healthiest possible food crops for people and animals. Higher K levels will often increase bulk yield, especially of carbohydrates, but a high-Potassium high-carb diet is not healthy; it leads to diabetes in people and metabolic diseases in grazing animals. I don't think a pasture or hayfield should be over 3% K saturation, along with at least 1.5% Na to keep the animals healthy.
That said, the ideal K saturation for world-class weed has yet to be determined. The aim, as I see it, should be is complex saccharides and oils/aromatics. As mentioned above, K is very important for the synthesis of carbohydrates, including fiber. Large amounts of K are used in growing cotton (fiber) and sugar beets. Oil seed crops such as rapeseed/canola also use large amounts of K. So optimum K is needed to synthesize large amounts of hydrocarbons as well.
5 or 6% K could possibly be ideal for cannabis as long as all of the other nutrient minerals are available in optimal levels as well, especially those that serve as catalysts in the formation of complex sugars, proteins, and oils/aromatics. Or maybe 3% K would be best. Remains to be seen.
The "Ideal" soil ratios with K @ 4% of CEC were developed with the goal of growing the healthiest possible food crops for people and animals. Higher K levels will often increase bulk yield, especially of carbohydrates, but a high-Potassium high-carb diet is not healthy; it leads to diabetes in people and metabolic diseases in grazing animals. I don't think a pasture or hayfield should be over 3% K saturation, along with at least 1.5% Na to keep the animals healthy.
That said, the ideal K saturation for world-class weed has yet to be determined. The aim, as I see it, should be is complex saccharides and oils/aromatics. As mentioned above, K is very important for the synthesis of carbohydrates, including fiber. Large amounts of K are used in growing cotton (fiber) and sugar beets. Oil seed crops such as rapeseed/canola also use large amounts of K. So optimum K is needed to synthesize large amounts of hydrocarbons as well.
5 or 6% K could possibly be ideal for cannabis as long as all of the other nutrient minerals are available in optimal levels as well, especially those that serve as catalysts in the formation of complex sugars, proteins, and oils/aromatics. Or maybe 3% K would be best. Remains to be seen.