Came across this study today and thought you guys and gals would like to see it.
The relationship between light intensity, cannabis yields, and profitability
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between light intensity, cannabis yields, and profitability. We also look for evidence that spectrum differences across broad‐spectrum, horticulture lights and general‐purpose LEDs impact the relationship between yield and light intensity. Finally, we discuss the financial return of increasing light intensity in order to increase yields. We find that yields increase linearly with light intensity up to at least 1500 εmols/m2 s, which is at least twice the intensity that is most commonly used by cannabis growers. That relationship did not appear to be influenced by spectrum quality differences across the lamps included in the study. Finally, for all the intensity ranges that we considered, the value of the gain in yields from increasing light intensity far exceeded the cost of using more electricity.
Link to actual report:
The Profitability of Growing Cannabis Under High Intensity Light by James Eaves, Stephen Eaves, Chad Morphy, Chris Murray :: SSRN
Conclusion
Our results show a positive, apparently linear relationship between intensity and yields continues to at least 1498 μmols/m2· s, which is over twice the level provided by an HPS fixture in the grow configuration that is currently the industry standard. Moreover, holding light intensity constant, regarding yields, all the lamps spectrums appear to perform equally well. In other worlds, we find no evidence that the HPS lamp’s spectrum or the various tuned spectrums offered by specialty horticulture LED lights increase yields compared to a general- purpose, broad-spectrum LED lamp. It may be the case that spectrum tuning impacts the chemical profile of the flower, but that question went beyond the scope of this study. Finally, the Master Grower judged that all the LED treatments for each run took about five fewer days to reach peak ripeness compared to the HPS treatments.