Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spectrum

[Icemud]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

The other day I was reading a study of cannabis, trichomes and potency and found some interesting info, even though its pretty much what we already know, it was nice to see that these studies confirmed it.

 

[CronicHempHog]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

interesting Brotha

 

[Icemud]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

interesting Brotha

Yea I found it sort of interesting too, the actual research was like 60 pages long but those were a few notables I wanted to share

 

[Bamalabrat]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

So what exactly is that saying? Not to be dense, but it seems to say that clear trichomes have the most THC and the least amount of CBN. It is my understanding that THC is best when it is cloudy because it is fully mature at that point and only slightly degraded. And "couchlock" is associated with amber trichomes and I guess that would be because of the higher CBN content. Is my understanding incorrect? Is there something else that should be considered?

Sorry for the questions, just trying to refine my understanding of these plants and the active substances. Thanks again for all your hard work in your journals Icemud.

 

[Icemud]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

So what exactly is that saying? Not to be dense, but it seems to say that clear trichomes have the most THC and the least amount of CBN. It is my understanding that THC is best when it is cloudy because it is fully mature at that point and only slightly degraded. And "couchlock" is associated with amber trichomes and I guess that would be because of the higher CBN content. Is my understanding incorrect? Is there something else that should be considered?

Sorry for the questions, just trying to refine my understanding of these plants and the active substances. Thanks again for all your hard work in your journals Icemud.

You got it for sure, pretty much it was a study confirming what we already know is that the longer the plants go for and the more amber the trichomes, the more THC degrades into CBN (sleepy couchlock) and the sooner or clearer the trichomes, the more THC is present

 

[Light Addict]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

Always a sharing

 

[Gideon50]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

Does that mean, the time to harvest is as they are changing from cloudy to Amber or brown?

 

[Icemud]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

Does that mean, the time to harvest is as they are changing from cloudy to Amber or brown?

It all depends on the effect you seek in your cannabis. Personally I like mine to have a minor sedative effect so I tend to run mine longer into the amber, while some want a more uplifting type effect which then you would harvest earlier before amber.

 

[Gideon50]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

Thanks, I thought so. I really appreciate all the work you do and that! And it's awesome that you share it I really appreciate it!!

 

[Bamalabrat]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

Thanks Icemud for affirming that for me. I can say that it is def an art getting the right amount of color in the trichs to achieve the desired affect. I finished my first grow last week and I had 3 different strains in a single res setup. All three finished at different times so the one that finished first (in my case the White Widow) was a couch lock and so was the Puff Puff Passout but then the PPP also has a higher CBN starting point I would guess. It is always nice to learn the theory behind the practice, but nothing beats experience IMHO.

Also on a side note, I put in my next grow in the flower tent to finish out the veg and then flip it. I put them in there on Friday and was freaked out today because they were very droopy. I was reading and worrying over what was the problem and finally came to the conclusion that my lights were too high. I did not lower the lights after I put the new plants in there. So my lights were at 7' and my canopy was at 20". I lowered my lights this morning and now my girls all perked up again and seem to be doing great. It was reading your last 2 journals and all the research that you do about light readings and stuff and then sharing that and your conclusions that has helped me learn about my lights and how to best use them for my plants. So again thanks for all that you do for and with this community.

 

[Icemud]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

Day 49 Flowering update!!!

Well we are getting closer to the finish, but still at least 20 days or so to go, maybe longer. I'm finally starting to really see the trichomes build up, as this strain is supposed to be just covered in trichomes, and I was starting to wonder about a week ago where all the frostiness was at, and finally I am really starting to see the trichomes form and cover the buds makes me happy

The girls continue to grow in girth, but the process has slowed down quite a bit and now I am seeing more of the calyx's mature and start to get swollen by the day, but still a ton of white pistils showing so I know there is still quite a bit of time before they are done. The plants also seem to be getting more fragrant with each day that passes so I know that the terpenes are really starting to build within the plants as well, so I know that they are getting closer to finish. I can't wait!

So I culled Plant #1's clone/vegging copy due to it being not ideal in terms of trichome development and fragrance and I hope I don't regret my decision come later, but I really think that by now if its not producing smell or a ton of trichomes, I don't think it will, so that makes room for my other plants which are all being cloned and rooted at this time, in preparation for my next grows. I'm a little nervous to be leaving out of town during the holidays for a week at such a critical time but I think that the plants should be fine as long as I give them a good watering and I may even consider cutting off 1/2 the lights while gone just to slow things down, but I'm still debating this. I've left for a week before during other grows, but never this close to harvest and I really don't want anything to happen this late in the cycle. Hopefully all will go smooth.

Not much else to report on as of now besides I am extremely happy with this grow so far and the budmasters seem to be doing a great job finishing up the girls.

Well, I think its time for some photos

Enjoy!!!! The tangies are looking so good!

 

[Icemud]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

Thanks Icemud for affirming that for me. I can say that it is def an art getting the right amount of color in the trichs to achieve the desired affect. I finished my first grow last week and I had 3 different strains in a single res setup. All three finished at different times so the one that finished first (in my case the White Widow) was a couch lock and so was the Puff Puff Passout but then the PPP also has a higher CBN starting point I would guess. It is always nice to learn the theory behind the practice, but nothing beats experience IMHO.

Also on a side note, I put in my next grow in the flower tent to finish out the veg and then flip it. I put them in there on Friday and was freaked out today because they were very droopy. I was reading and worrying over what was the problem and finally came to the conclusion that my lights were too high. I did not lower the lights after I put the new plants in there. So my lights were at 7' and my canopy was at 20". I lowered my lights this morning and now my girls all perked up again and seem to be doing great. It was reading your last 2 journals and all the research that you do about light readings and stuff and then sharing that and your conclusions that has helped me learn about my lights and how to best use them for my plants. So again thanks for all that you do for and with this community.

Your welcome for the info I've learned I personally like about 15-25% amber, because I like having the heavy sedative effect for sleep aid as my busy mind sometimes wont let me go to sleep, so for that its really nice I've also realized though that each strain also has its own distinct traits in the high/buzz so even if the buds of 2 strains are harvested at the same time, they still may effect me differently. I've done some reading on this and I think that the terpenes may also play into this somewhat, not just the cannabinoids but after getting a certain strain down after multiple grows, I have sort of tuned my pulling time to when I like it with these tangies, since its a new strain for me, I probably will let them go a little longer just because they show some sativa dom traits and I want that heavy high, so I may run them 75-80 days or more depending on how things look when I get back from vacation

 

[Icemud]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

Here is that research study Graytail on High brix and pest control.

E.S. Cropconsult Ltd. 3

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE
Brix is a measure of soluble solids in plant sap. Anecdotal reports suggest that manipulating nutrition status to produce "high-Brix crops" results in lower pest pressure on crops. The theory behind high-Brix crops is that plants with a 12-point or higher refractometer reading have a high nutrient content and are attacked by fewer pests. Accordingly, high-Brix readings can be produced by adding specific nutrients to the soil prior to planting, and by maintaining sap pH of 6.4 throughout the season through foliar application of Ca, Mg, K, or Na to raise pH, or phosphates or sulfates to lower pH. “

Brix mix
- A fertilizer formulated to increase the brix (sugar content) of growing vegetables, trees and vines, flowers, herbs, and ornamental crops. By raising the brix levels in plants, a farmer can increase yields and reduce insect and fungus attacks. Maintaining a high brix level helps the crop deal with adverse climactic conditions that can cause stress, and thus a lower yield. The brix scale, which represents the percentage of sugar by weight in a solution, was invented in the late 1800s by Austrian scientist Adolph F. Brix.” From the Earthbound Organic website. As the quote above from Earthbound Farms indicates the idea of manipulating Brix to achieve better pest control is well known among organic growers. However, there has been recent interest in this concept among BC growers, in part because products are now on the market claiming to promote high-Brix readings in crops. The objective of this project is to review the scientific literature (Part I) on the impact of Brix (or nutrient) manipulation on plants and their
pests. For this review we focused on insect pests. In addition to a literature review we also interviewed researchers and practitioners

(Part II)
working in the field of plant nutrition/health and pest response, to determine their experience with the high-Brix approach to crop protection. This review concludes with a summary discussion of our findings.

PART I: LITERATURE REVIEW 1.0
Methods

To conduct the first part of the review, scientific literature was searched systematically using three article databases, Agricola, Biological and Agricultural Index Plus, and Web of Science. A sample of search terms and resulting number of articles is listed in Table 1. Table 1. The number of scientific articles resulting from entering search terms in Agricola, Biological and Agricultural Index Plus, and Web of Science search engines. Numbers in brackets indicate the number of articles relevant to this study in cases where
not all articles were applicable.

Table 1 illustrates that very few (4) studies were found studying the relationship between plant Brix levels and insect feeding. The vast majority of studies examined plant chemistry in conjunction with insect feeding (chemical constituents of plants and Homoptera), or the impact of fertilizers or specific nutrients on insects (soil management and host plant and insect; aphid and fertilizer; magnesium and insect and host plant). Articles about soil fertility fell into two categories; studies that looked at the impact of organic management and amendments, i.e. a multi-nutrient approach, and those that evaluated the impact of specific plant nutrients on insects. This review will first discuss the findings of studies evaluating a multi-nutrient approach. Second the impact of specific nutrients on pest populations will be examined.

2.0
Organic Management and Amendments: Multi-nutrient Approach

From our review of the literature we found two approaches to amending multiple nutrients simultaneously for improved plant performance: Brix and mineral balance hypothesis.

2.1 Brix levels and insect pests Four studies were found that studied Brix levels in conjunction with insect levels. Three of the four studies examined the impact of feeding damage by sucking insect pests (Homoptera) on Brix levels, i.e. the plants response to insect feeding (Madaleno et al. 2008; Jones et al., 1998; Mercader and Isaacs, 2004). The fourth study (Mayse 1996) examined insect response to plant Brix levels, consistent with the objectives of this study. Working in grapes Mayse (1996) examined the relationship between foliar Brix levels and leafhopper (Erythroneura spp.) counts. Samples were taken from five organic and three conventional vineyards from June to October for two years, measuring leaf Brix and leafhopper populations. Comparisons were made between leaf blade vs. petiole samples, leaf age, field location, and impact of time of day on Brix readings and leafhopper counts. Despite such attention to detail, their findings did not show any relationship between plant-Brix level and pest populations in either the organic or conventional field sites. In six of the eight vineyard sites examined, leafhopper populations either went up or did not respond in a predictable manner as leaf Brix readings went up (Mayse, 1996). This is the opposite response to what is claimed in the high-Brix literature – as Brix goes up pests go down. However, in a later interview Mayse suggests that the relationships between grapevine nutrition status and populations of leafhoppers and other pests may be more complex and involve more factors than can be
predicted by Brix levels alone (Mayse in Anonymous, 1997). A preliminary study of aphid populations on potato leaves yielded similar results to Mayse (1996) (E. S. Cropconsult, unpublished data). We sampled leaf Brix, and aphids associated with the sampled leaf, weekly from July to August in 11 organic potato fields in 2008 and 2009. We compared Brix and aphid levels on new vs. older leaves, three different potato varieties, and by field, as well as changes with crop age. In July we found a weak to moderate relationship between leaf Brix and aphid populations in 6 of the 11 fields, with 12-31% of variation in aphid counts being explained by Brix levels
(Table 2). In the remaining 5 fields the relationship was negligible, with the co-efficient of variation (R2) ranging from 0-9%. The relationship was much weaker in August, with 7 of the 11 fields having less than 2% of variation in aphid counts explained by Brix. However it is interesting to note that in 11 of the 12 fields aphid counts were either neutral to or went down with increasing Brix level, and in only one case did aphid populations go up with increasing Brix. This would suggest that there may be some association between components of plant sap and insect feeding, however as suggested by Mayse (1996) Brix levels may be too simple a measurement to explain or predict the relationship between insect feeding and plant nutrient status.

2.2 Mineral Balance Hypothesis

Numerous studies have examined the impact of organic management or amendments as part of a holistic approach to manage pests with all of these studies examining soil amendments as the route to optimizing plant health. Examples of studies that demonstrate lower pest pressure on crops grown in soil with organic amendments include those using waste vermicompost (Aranconet al., 2007), raw cow manure mixed with sawdust (Alyokhin et al., 2005), and fresh or composted dairy cow manure (Phelan et al., 1996). In their work with European corn borer Phelan et al. (1996) determined that growing corn in organically farmed soil led to less corn borer egg-laying than in corn grown in conventionally managed soil (Phelan et al., 1995). From this result they generated the mineral balance hypothesis - organically managed soil supports better plant health through buffering soil pH, moisture, and mineral nutrients (Phelan et al., 1995). This hypothesis gained further support through work with Colorado potato beetle (Alyokhin et al., 2005). Manure application decreased beetle density in plots, and 40-57% of the variation in beetle density was accounted for by leaf mineral concentrations (Alyokhin et al., 2005). Leaf boron in particular was 2X higher in plots treated with manure than in plots treated with conventional fertilizer (Alyokhin et al., 2005). In none of these studies, however, was Brix level included as a measure of plant response to different amendments. The mineral balance hypothesis is similar to the high-Brix approach in that the goal is to obtain an optimal balance of nutrients in the plant and thus optimize plant yield and reduce pest pressure. However, an important difference between the mineral balance hypothesis and the high-Brix approach is that the Brix approach uses a combination of E.S. Cropconsult Ltd. 7 both soil amendments and foliar feeding to obtain optimal plant nutrient status. In contrast, the mineral balance approach the focus is on amending the soil in order to achieve a more sustained and optimal release of nutrients for plants to subsequently utilize (Phelan personal communication). The mineral balance hypothesis does not appear to hold however in all studies examining organic soil amendments, e.g. Boiteaue et al.(2008) and Karungi et al. (2006a and 2006b) both found higher pest levels on crops grown in soil with organic amendments (poultry fertilizer and composted kitchen wastes) than chemical fertilizers.

3.0
Impact of Individual Nutrients on Insect Feeding

The nutrients commonly managed in a Brix program are phosphorous (P), potash or potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and sodium (Na). In Brix program inputs of ammonium- and nitrate-form nitrogen (N) are also carefully managed. However a large body of research has been generated on the effects of nitrogen fertilizer on insect populations, and it is generally accepted that increasing plant tissue nitrogen levels increases pest pressure (e.g. Jahn et al., 2005; Cisneros and Godfrey, 2001; Jauset et al., 2000), so nitrogen will not be covered in this review. Instead we will focus on studies of phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, and calcium as these are the most commonly studied nutrients in terms of impact on insect pests and the nutrients commonly manipulated in order to produce high-Brix crops. Results of the review of these four nutrients are summarized in Table 3. 3.1

Phosphorous and Potassium
Phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) are key elements in traditional fertilizers and are known to be major contributors of plant health. The effects of these inputs on insect pests have been shown to be variable (Table 2). In the case of whitefly feeding on sweet potato, Skinner and Cohen (1994) found that as P levels decreased, whitefly oviposition on sweet potato leaves decreased as well. In petunia Jansson and Ekbom (2002) found that as P fertilizer levels increased, aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) development time shortened, and the adult lifespan and number of offspring increased. Both of these studies (Skinner and Cohen, 1994; Jansson and Ekbom 2002) suggest that higher phosphorous levels are associated with higher insect levels. However studies of the woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) on hemlock (Pontius et al., 2006), and potato leafminer Liriomyza trifolii (Facknath and Lalljee, 2005) show the opposite. Hemlock species associated with low colonization success by A. tsugae had higher levels of foliar P (Pontius et al., 2006).
Similarly, high foliar P levels lowered the number of L. trifolii feeding punctures on potato leaves, and resulted in smaller pupae and adults (Facknath and Lalljee, 2005). For potassium the majority of studies demonstrate that increasing foliar K levels can reduce insect pressure (Facknath and Lalljee, 2005; Myers et al., 2005; Myers and Gratton, 2006; Walter and DiFonzo, 2007). This finding is in agreement with a compilation of studies by the International Potash Institute (cited in Amtmann et al., 2008). In 63% of the studies, higher K levels we re associated with lower levels of insect and mite infestations. For example, for leafminer Liriomyza trifolii in potato, increases in E.S. Cropconsult Ltd. 8foliar K due to fertilizer application lowered the number of feeding punctures, survival, and size of pupae and adults (Facknath and Lalljee, 2005). Myers et al. (2005) found that the soybean aphid produced more nymphs and had higher rates of population increase on field-collected leaves showing K deficiency symptoms than on healthy leaves. In a follow-up field study these authors found that aphid population growth rate was negatively correlated with foliar K, i.e. as leaf K increased, soybean aphid population growth decreased (Myers and Gratton, 2006). Plants receiving the lowest K fertilizer rate showing a 60% higher A. glycines net reproductive rate, and nearly double the peak aphid abundance compared with medium and high K plots (Myers and Gratton, 2006). A study by Walter and DiFonzo (2007) paired K-deficient and K-sufficient sampling sites and compared aphid population on plants. Under high aphid pressure, A. glycines density was 50% higher in K-deficient areas, whereas there was no difference under low aphid pressure (Walter and DiFonzo, 2007). In a K-deficient field, plants that did not receive K fertilizer had more than 3x the number of aphids by the end of the study (Walter and DiFonzo, 2007). In addition, aphids produced nymphs at an earlier age than in fertilized plots (Walter and DiFonzo, 2007). Amtmann et al. (2008) provide a potential mechanism to explain the relationship between K deficiency and increased insect attack. K deficiency results in reduced synthesis of proteins, starch, and cellulose, and increased accumulation of lower molecular weight compounds such as amino acids, nitrate, soluble sugars, and organic acids. These lower weight molecular compounds are more easily utilized as nutrient sources by sucking insects. So in other words, K deficiency on it’s own may not correlate with higher insect attack, but the subsequent impact of K deficiency on plants, makes plants more readily attacked by sucking insects. Low K fertility was associated with high foliar levels of the amino acid serine and higher aphid infestations (Walter and DiFonzo, 2007).

3.2 Magnesium (Mg)
The impact of soil or foliar Mg on insect damage or population growth has been shown to have either a positive or neutral (no response)effect on insect performance (Table 3). Studies conducted with crop wastes found that soil Mg was significantly higher in plots amended with crop wastes than conventional NPK plots, and that soybean aphid infestation levels on bean plants was also significantly higher (Karungi et al., 2006). Higher levels of Mg have also been shown to favor reproduction and shortened development time for silkworm, and increased oviposition for adelgids (Amwack and Leather, 2002). In contrast, a study with raw cow manure and sawdust amendments found that leaf Mg levels were significantly lower in manure + sawdust plots than synthetic fertilizer plots, however Colorado potato beetle populations were not significantly affected by Mg status – neutral effect (Alyokhin et al., 2005).

3.3
Calcium (Ca)
In studies of hemlock species showing varying levels of resistance to Adelges tsugae infestations (Pontius et al., 2006), foliar Ca levels explained 23% of the variability in E.S. Cropconsult Ltd. 9 infestation levels; species with naturally higher foliar Ca were associated with lower insect infestations. Similarly, calcium levels on the surface of aphid-resistant Nicotiana spp. (tobacco) leaves were 10-100X higher than those on leaves of susceptible species (Harada et al., 1996). In studies with organic amendments, however, the situation was similar to Mg, i.e. calcium had either a positive or neutral effect on insect performance. Bean plots amended with crop wastes had higher soil Ca levels and higher aphid infestations (Karungi et al., 2006), while potato plots amended with cow manure had significantly lower foliar Ca levels, but no significant correlation between Ca and beetle densities (Alyokhin et al., 2005). Studies summarized by Amw
ack and Leather (2002) similarly found a positive effect of Ca on reproduction and development time for silkworm Bombyx mori (Thangavelu and Bania, 1990), or a neutral effect for Ca on Western spruce budworm Choristoneura occidentalis (Clancy and King, 993).

While there is a trend towards lower pest pressure with adequate or higher K levels, and lower Mg levels, overall there is no consensus from scientific studies as to whether a specific nutrient has a positive, negative, or neutral impact on pests. However a few studies have suggested that it is the combined impact of nutrients that is the critical factor when determining impact on pest levels – a suggestion that is similar to what is proposed by the high-Brix theory. For example, Miyasaka et al. (2007) suggested that sugarcane aphid injury was greatest when a large imbalance of foliar N to K existed. Several of the above studies (Facknath and Lalljee, 2005; Pontius et al., 2006; Myers and Gratton, 2006) also found strong associations between foliar P and Mg, foliar N, K, and Ca, and foliar N, P, K, and S, respectively. However, we could not find any studies where the combined impacts of these minerals together on insect pests were examined. Another explanation of the discrepancies among studies is the role of that many minerals play as components of plant defensive compounds rather than constituents of plant sap (phloem). In some cases, plant defensive compounds may be characteristic of the species of plants being tested. For example, in studies of aphid-resistant tobacco plants the high Ca levels on the leaf surfaces were in the form of the defensive compound CaCl2, which was found toxic to be aphids (Harada et al., 1996). This compound was not present in the susceptible species, and no other Ca or chloride compounds isolated killed or repelled aphids in the study (Harada et al., 1996). So the higher level of Ca associated with aphid resistance was not present in the sap but on the leaf surface. Similarly, Medicago truncatula plants showing resistance to feeding by beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua, lost this resistance when they were modified to stop producing a layer of calcium oxalate crystals in a sheath around their vascular tissues (i.e. structural location of Ca rather than in the sap), which caused abrasion and wear to S. exigua mouthparts (Korth et al., 2006).


Part II: KNOWLEDGE REVIEW
In addition reviewing the scientific literature we also interviewed researchers and practitioners who were identified through their work on the reviewed scientific studies or via the internet (Table 4). All researchers and practitioners were contacted by phone, but only Dr. Phelan, Dr. Skow, and Reggie Destree were available for interviewing. Each researcher was asked to summarize their understanding of the concept of high-Brix crops, or associated theories, to provide examples of how a program to manipulate Brix levels could be mplemented and to give field examples of the success of the high-Brix approach. Their comments are summarized below.

Summary of interview with Larry Phelan (Professor of Entomology, Wooster, Ohio):
Dr. Phelan is a proponent of the mineral balance hypothesis, which is similar in some ways to the concept of high-Brix crops, although the focus is primarily on manipulations to the soil rather than foliar feeding of plants. He suggests that in general mineral balance can be maintained by keeping the carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio at about 25:1, although for each crop the ratio is slightly different. At higher carbon levels an active detrital food web is supported, which in turn increases the biological activity of the soil. Greater
biological activity in the soil provides, according to Phelan, a slower and more sustained release of N and the other soil nutrients. In addition to regulating the release of nutrients from the soil, in his work Phelan has also shown that soil microbes help “turn-on” plant defensive pathways prior to disease or insect attack. In their work, Phelan’s team use standard soil tests to optimize ratios and nutrien
ts. As researchers they use petiole testing to obtain information on plant nutritional status and to make correlations with insect levels, but not for making adjustments via foliar feeding. Phelan recommends using animal or plant manures to get high carbon and nutrients. Dairy manure is better than other types because it has more minerals and carbon, but Phelan emphasized using locally available manures. As poultry manure is very high in N but low in C, sawdust or straw can be added to it to increase C:N ratio (and other
nutrients) and improve biological activity. In his interview, Phelan also stressed the importance of crop rotation and the impact that rotation has on promoting a diverse soil microbial community. Evidence to support the mineral balance theory comes from several systems. For example in corn Phelan showed that fewer corn borer eggs were laid on plants grown in soil that had been managed organically versus corn grown in conventionally managed soil. In tomatoes, egg laying by whiteflies was reduced when E.S. Cropconsult Ltd. 12 plants were fertilized with compost versus ammonium nitrate. Phelan has also examined the impact of different methods of manipulating C:N - adding sugar, straw, sawdust – on soybean yield. While adding sugar significantly increased soil respiration and lowered nitrate levels initially, this effect wore off over time. In contrast adding straw and sawdust had more sustained effect, with N re
leased slowly by microbial community.



Summary of interview with Dan Skow (International Ag Labs, Fairmont, Minnesota):
According to Dan Skow, keeping sap Brix levels up does help to keep insect and disease pressure down but it takes time. He recommends that soil Ca: Mg ratios should be maintained at a 7:1 ratio. At lower soil Ca: Mg ratios plants will need higher N inputs, which will increase insect pressure. Further, Skow suggests that growers keep soil P: K ratio at approximately 1:1. In Skow’s experience imbalances towards higher K result in more insects and diseases. Skow also recommends that the soil oxidation reduction potential (ORP) should be between 24-28. Skow recommends an overall nutrient manipulation goal of maintaining plant tissue N, Ca, and K in 11 ratio throughout season. Skows company offers DVD based courses on their program. In order to achieve these optimal ratios, Skow uses the following steps:

1) an initial Morgan soil test to make P recommendations (This test is only done at certain labs because it is less efficient than standard soil tests – Skow has the Morgan soil test done by the LaMont Chemical Co.)

2) an initial soil oxidation reduction potential (ORP) test

3) add potassium sulfate, gypsum, limestone, soil inoculants, humates to amend soil initially

4) add P (8-19-3) in seed row with seed, liquid 32 or 28% side-dress, calcium nitrate or liquid sulfur to raise phosphate in plant tissue based on petiole sampling

5) do petiole tests to determine what minerals to foliar feed with (N, Ca, K)



Summary of interview with Reggie Destree (Dramm Company, LaCrosse, Wisconsin)
According to Reggie Destree sap pH in healthy plants should be between 6.2-6.5. However, sap Brix should be in a range specific to the crop (e.g. in potato foliage Brix should be about 5 or higher, in corn should be 8-9). A lower than optimal sap pH indicates, to Destree, that there is a Mg, Ca, K, or Na deficiency. Similarly, a higher than optimal sap pH indicates K or N deficiency. In addition to sap pH and Brix, Destree also measures sap electrical conductivity (EC). Again the optimal EC range is specific to the crop (e.g. in potato foliage should be about 1200, in peas should be 1000-1200). Destree also added that it is important to keep phosphate levels in correct range. In his experience if all of these parameters (sap pH, sap Brix, sap EC and phosphate) are in the correct range there should be few or no aphids. As an example he discussed studies conducted in soybeans and dry beans in Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin which showed aphid counts of 0-10/plant associated with leaf sap Brix of 9.5 and sap pH of 6.2. In contrast a leaf sap Brix of 5.7 and sap pH of 5.3, was associated with aphid counts of >3500/plant (Destree study cited by Jay Cayman, accessed at: E.S. Cropconsult Ltd. 13=mich-organic&P=1996). An example of a potential program for organic potatoes was discussed. Destree suggested the following steps and products, sold by his company, that he would recommend based on testing of soil and/or plant sap. All readings are done using hand-held meters

1) pre-plant incorporation of P, K, Ca, Mg, S, or micronutrients (as needed)
2) Fertilizer liquid “starters” on seed-piece: AER SP-1, Drammatic E (includes kelp, fulvic acid and energizer), AER K-Sulfate
3) N applied with planting (AER AgriBoost O, Dramm ONE)
4) K top- or side-dresses, or foliar applications.

As the plant grows Destree would also recommend organic foliar plant nutrients to maintain plant health and stabilize plant sap pH (examples of products used include Dramm One Plant Food, Neem, AER AgriBoost O, K-Sulfate).

SUMMARY
The objective of this review was to find support for the claim that manipulating plant Brix levels to produce high-Brix crops results in reduced insect pest pressure. A review of the scientific literature did not reveal any studies demonstrating that foliar feeding for manipulating plant Brix levels resulted in lower insect pressure. Only one study, a survey in grapes, examined if there was a relationship between foliar Brix and pests; the study found no relationship. Similarly, field data collected from potato fields in Ladner, BC
does not indicate a relationship between Brix-levels in plant foliage and aphid counts. Several studies and experts suggest that Brix-level alone may not be a sufficient predictor of insect attack on plants. The rationale behind high-Brix crops is that foliar feeding of multiple nutrients is necessary in order to maintain the optimal nutrient balance necessary to reduce insect feeding. Unfortunately, most scientific studies examining the impact of plant nutrient status and insect feeding rarely examine more than one nutrient at a time. Indeed a review of the studies examining individual nutrients suggests that for most nutrients – with the exception of potassium – manipulation can result in positive, negative or neutral impacts on pest populations depending on the insect-plant combination. Several studies suggest that the balance of nutrients may be the more critical factor determining insect feeding, rather than the concentration of any one nutrient. However, we found no studies experimentally testing this idea. Local growers wonder if the claims that soil amendments and foliar feeding in order to raise plant Brix will result in reduce pest pressure. Our review of the literature indicates that there are no studies that specifically address this question. Although several practioners of the high-Brix approach have anecdotal reports of efficacy, again third party studies are lacking. In other words, there is no objective evidence to support or refute the idea that manipulating plant Brix levels will have a subsequent impact on pest levels. We suggest that growers interested in the high-Brix approach conduct their own on-farm E.S. Cropconsult Ltd. 14trials to test whether products 1) raise Brix levels and 2) compare pest levels on treated and untreated crops. As a minimum guideline for such trials we recommend that growers

1) Focus on a single crop that experiences moderate pest pressure and foliar pests are easy to find (e.g. leaf lettuce)

2) Have treatments isolated from each other, e.g. with a buffer of bare soil between treated plants as some of the nutrient manipulations are to the soil

3) Follow general guidelines regarding randomization, replication and control (for useful guidelines to on-farm studies see the “On-farm Research Guide” Prepared by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (Santa Cruz, CA)

4) Take accurate counts of pest incidence prior to application of Brix modify products and at regular intervals subsequently

5) Plots should be big enough that pests don’t “spill over” into adjacent treatments

6) A forum for sharing and compiling the observations of individual growers is also recommended so that growers can share experiences and ideas.

 

[SweetSue]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

Thank you Icemud, for the HB/pest info and the rest of this fabulous journal, that I haven't read much of yet. My friend is having a surgical procedure tomorrow afternoon and to be with her I need to go to work with her very early in the morning and waste hours before we head out to the surgical center. You've given me much to read while I wait. From my quick scan it appears you've given us another seminar in lighting.

 

[drcannabi]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

You're garden is Looking great icemud! Great info on the Budmaster too.

Doc

 

[DankWolf907]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

Thanks for helping to confirm something i had suspected.

I may be new, but logic screams at me... Healthier plants with more nutrients, are more inviting to hungry pests then less healthy plants.

That was a long read, and i only read half for now, but thats what im getting..

Dinners free tonight, do i want burgerKing or outback steak?

 

[SweetSue]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

Thanks for helping to confirm something i had suspected.

I may be new, but logic screams at me... Healthier plants with more nutrients, are more inviting to hungry pests then less healthy plants.

That was a long read, and i only read half for now, but thats what im getting..

Dinners free tonight, do i want burgerKing or outback steak?

How much of a carnivore are you? How fond are you of real quality vegetable matter? I'm guessing you went with steakhouse.

 

[ShiggityFlip]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

Thanks for helping to confirm something i had suspected.

I may be new, but logic screams at me... Healthier plants with more nutrients, are more inviting to hungry pests then less healthy plants.

That was a long read, and i only read half for now, but thats what im getting..

Dinners free tonight, do i want burgerKing or outback steak?

My experience has been quite the opposite. The weaker plant is often the source of the growing infestation. I have even had a case where one plant had spider mites in a group grown from all the same clones. It also happened to be the most sickly of all the plants. I put a bag over it and carried it to the woods. Dug a hole and buried it. Then I left my clothes outside in a bag to be washed and went in and showered. No infestation took hold on any other plants. It is like the weak one sacrificed itself.

I think the key here is that they were examining mostly just Brix levels. If you read in there with the effects of higher foliar calcium it had a definite effect on plant susceptibility. In every instance I have seen (unfortunately a few) spider mite infestation was worse on the weakest plants. They have the lowest defense. Much like cheetahs going after the old, very young, or the sick. In the weed herd they are going to zoom in on the plants with the thinnest skins.

 

[Icemud]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

Thanks for helping to confirm something i had suspected.

I may be new, but logic screams at me... Healthier plants with more nutrients, are more inviting to hungry pests then less healthy plants.

That was a long read, and i only read half for now, but thats what im getting..

Dinners free tonight, do i want burgerKing or outback steak?

My experience has been quite the opposite. The weaker plant is often the source of the growing infestation. I have even had a case where one plant had spider mites in a group grown from all the same clones. It also happened to be the most sickly of all the plants. I put a bag over it and carried it to the woods. Dug a hole and buried it. Then I left my clothes outside in a bag to be washed and went in and showered. No infestation took hold on any other plants. It is like the weak one sacrificed itself.

I think the key here is that they were examining mostly just Brix levels. If you read in there with the effects of higher foliar calcium it had a definite effect on plant susceptibility. In every instance I have seen (unfortunately a few) spider mite infestation was worse on the weakest plants. They have the lowest defense. Much like cheetahs going after the old, very young, or the sick. In the weed herd they are going to zoom in on the plants with the thinnest skins.

Its definitely a very interesting article and I can attest to myself being skeptical of the whole "high brix repels pests" because I've witnessed in my own garden plants with a brix of 22 getting destroyed by thrips and PM where in the same grow, plants of brix 12-14 were not even touched. I do think like Shiggity said that in "most" cases, a pest is going to go for a lower brix "health" plant than a plant of better health as in the survival of the fittest analogy but even in my own case this proved not always to be true. I really like how the article not only looked at brix, but also suggested that there is more at play than a simple brix level, and it could be related to the actual nutrients being used and the abundance of them. Since most high brix programs are low in Nitrogen, I think this could be one of the main factors that would influence pest attacks as the article mentioned. Nitrogen definitely has bearing on pest pressure where higher levels do have quite a bit of evidence that they will draw in more pests than plants with lower Nitrogen levels.

I have done a lot of reading up on high brix, not recently, but in the past years and its true that the information available on high brix is very limited, and most of the resources of information also have a product they are selling. I've always learned not to trust any information that is tied in with a product for sale, or in other words not to trust anyone that is trying to sell you something. I do think as a general basis that plants of a higher brix may have better response to pest pressure, as I remember reading somewhere else that plants can sense infestations and even raise terpene levels and trichome counts to render a solution to the problem. (I will have to dig this up if I can find it). I think that there may be many factors that are coming into play, and with the research paper I posted saying there is no defined correlation or relationship between high brix plants and low insect infestation, I think it would be more accurate to say that high brix plants MAY have a better method of repelling insects than non high brix plants, the key word being "may".

Overall, without debating whether its entirely true or false which I don't have the time to really get into or the want, I think that its definitely a great article/study that shines light that a simple brix reading is not enough to offer validity to the statement "higher brix plants turn away pests" and that there is much more at play in the results like the article suggests (nutrients, type of nutrients organic/synthetic, foliar feeding or not...etc). Since a majority of the "high brix" knowledge stems from studies done in the late 1800's and then again in the 1950's, they probably didn't have the means to conduct the type of tests that can be done today so they may have witnessed the "survival of the fittest" concept without going into further research, technology wasn't there to do so at the time, so the general observation may have formed the whole "high brix plants repel pests" concept. Either way, I would take it all with a grain of salt, or organics lol

 

[DankWolf907]

Re: Icemud LED Grow Featuring The All New Budmaster COB Technology - White Full Spect

Shigg did make a valid point, and you make the best point. Studies in this area lack..far to much..

as I remember reading somewhere else that plants can sense infestations and even raise terpene levels and trichome counts to render a solution to the problem.

I posted an article or 2 about this somewhere around these forums. not in MJ, but other plant species and their communicating. Interesting stuff.
Id like to see a Brix grower start growing for studies and not harvests. A bit much to ask i know.. But were never going to advance if everyones only interested in how big/potent their last harvest was. And i personally believe MJ has alot more to offer then what we currently know.