What are the water requirements of hemp, and how much water are you going to need?
It’s an exciting time to be involved in the hemp industry. After the initial popularity surge of cannabis across North America, many companies and growers have quickly switched gears to target the blossoming hemp industry. As exciting as switching from marijuana to hemp is, it also leaves many unanswered questions for growers, such as how much water is too much or not enough?
Hemp is a sturdy and robust crop that can handle a lot of different environmental conditions, but that doesn’t mean that it’s indestructible. Having the right irrigation plan for your hemp crop is the best way to ensure that it not only survives but flourishes. In the following article, we’ll take a look at three different irrigation methods that you can use to irrigate your hemp crops.
3 Hemp Irrigation Methods
In this section, we’ll cover three of the most popular irrigation methods that hemp growers across North America are using and some of the pros and cons associated with each method to help you choose an irrigation method that suits your needs.
- Flood Irrigation – One of the oldest irrigation methods globally, flood irrigation is an irrigation option for growers that have access to free or even low-cost water. Flood irrigation is where you flood the entire surface area of the soil. The benefit of flood irrigation is that it’s extremely easy to do. You just flood your hemp crop with water. The downside to flood irrigation is that plants can become water damaged, which leads to crop damage. It’s also water-intensive, and in areas where water is expensive, that can be cost-prohibitive.
Pivot Irrigation
2- If you already own a pivot irrigation may be a great option if you’re not willing to invest in an entirely new irrigation system. Pivot systems draw water from your water source and then delivers it to your crop via a sprinkler system. Pivot systems use much less water than flood irrigation but also water your hemp plants from above, which means wet leaves and foliage, as well as less water making it your plant’s root systems.
3 Drip Irrigation The final method is drip irrigation or micro-irrigation involves running a series of irrigation tubes with holes in them along the hemp plants’ rows either above or below ground. The only downside to drip irrigation is the initial setup costs. The advantage to drip irrigation is that it uses much less water than either flood irrigation or pivot irrigation while also avoiding any water on the leaves or foliage of the plant and directing water directly to the plant’s root system.
Hemp Water Requirements – Conclusion
As you can see, there are some great options available for watering your hemp plants. It’s essential for you to sit down and carefully plan a comprehensive water system for your hemp crop and to evaluate which option is best for you. Look at the costs associated with the irrigation system set up, water costs, and flexibility.
