Dissolved Oxygen Improves Plant Growth, Reduces Crop Time

The objective of every grower in a competitive and demanding market such as the cannabis sector is to optimize productivity in order to fulfill rising demand while still making a profit. This method, then, entails how to guarantee that the growth process is optimized and the necessary elements for success are implemented.

After you’ve addressed the most essential elements of home growing, such as lighting, water cycles, and nutrients, there are still other elements that might make all the difference in the final cannabis quality during the growth process. Dissolved oxygen is one of them.

What is dissolved oxygen?

When we refer to dissolved oxygen in water, this is actually molecular oxygen saturation. This is beneficial for plant growth, including developing large healthier cannabis plants. Oxygen molecules enter the water from different sources – when air traps it into them. For example, when these watered are used to irrigate plantations, they play a vital role in the development of the plants.

Dissolved oxygen is necessary for plant growth and development, enabling plants to take in more water and root hairs to grow. It also helps prevent anaerobic bacteria which can cause root rot.

The lack of oxygen has several negative consequences on the life of a cannabis plant, including reduced growth and development. It takes approximately 14 days for a herbe to decompose completely, yielding nutrients that the plants may consume.

Cannabis & Respiration

The process of breathing is known as respiration. Plants, like every other living thing, breathe. Even though their demands are less complicated than those of humans, they still need a well-ventilated environment in which to grow. In the process of aerobic respiration, your cannabis plants use their roots, stems, and leaves as oxidizers. Oxygen is used as an oxidizer in dark respiration. Photorespiration is dependent on light; it does not utilize dark respiration.

The process of photosynthesis is 24/7, but it is more intense at night. For those who need a reminder, here is what the process looks like:

• The plant draws water through its roots.
• The leaves absorb carbon dioxide from the air and store light energy.
• Then, using the sun’s energy, the plant transforms water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and oxygen.
• The plant uses sugars to grow and releases oxygen into the atmosphere.

Without photosynthesis, the oxygen in the air would be depleted within a few millennia. Photosynthesis includes a number of procedures as you may see from the preceding paragraphs. It’s because to this that plants have a greater respiration capacity at night. It’s also why every marijuana-growing book you’ve read urges you to keep nighttime temperatures lower than during the day.

Another reason why cannabis plants require air is because of the CO2 they produce. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere presently stands at 407 ppm (part per million). For the record, it has not been at this level for 800,000 years! Elevated CO2 levels are harmful to humans; however, plants enjoy them. A concentration of between 1000 and 1400 parts per million is ideal for a grow room.

Other Important Components of Respiration

Not only is it important to keep the substratum and roots well oxygenated, but growers who use organic soil need an even higher level of oxygenation because microorganisms in the earth respire as well. The porosity of your substrate also affects how much respiratory capacity your soil has. You can improve this by adding perlite or coco coir to your mixture.

Your marijuana plants have a lot of tiny pores known as stomata. Consider these to be the plant’s “nostrils,” which it uses to take in CO2 and give off oxygen. Spray both sides of the leaves with water twice a day if most of the stomata are on the underside. The optimum temperature for water is between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Stomata are small and clogged easily, therefore they must be cleaned regularly. Because rainfall does the job for you outside growers do not have this problem.

Your crop takes in CO2 and gives out O2 as it photosynthesizes. It absorbs O2 at night and emits CO2. If you grow your herb outdoors, there is natural air circulation. Indoor growers, on the other hand, need to invest in well-placed fans or a ventilation system. Fresh air must be brought in via an intake fan, while stale air must be removed via an exhaust fan.

Why Air Circulation Is Crucial

In order to have a thriving indoor garden, you must Exchange the air frequently. The three main concerns are:

• Clean stomas
• Good air circulation
• Consistent air exchange

Remember that an even distribution of air throughout the grow room is key, or else you’ll have areas of stagnant air. But achieving this balance is tricky- the air can’t be too moist or too dry. We recommend avoiding having layers of hot and cold air in the room, as this will cause your crop to grow more slowly, making it susceptible to insect infestation and mold growth.

Useful Air Circulation & Exchange Equipment

The following is not a comprehensive list, and you don’t have to buy everything on it. Your requirements will vary depending on the size of your grow tent. For example, if you have a tiny grow tent, there’s no need to buy half a dozen items from this list!

• Intake Fan: Strengthens the growing chamber.
• Exhaust Fan: Removes oxygen-depleted air.
• Active Carbon Filter: This is a necessary purchase for those who grow stinky weed and want to stay under the radar.
• Ventilation Ducts: There are two types of ducts available: those that remove stale air and those that allow fresh air in.
• Acoustic Box: The fans’ noise is reduced.
• Ceiling Fan: This fan is meant to be hung from the ceiling of your grow room, between the lamp and the top of your plants. By suspending the fan in this way, you create airflow that helps to cool down hot air which can build up in that area.
• Clip Fan: A smaller fan that is perfect for tiny tents.
• Oscillating Stand Fan: The device is specially designed to evenly distribute air.
• Floor Fan: The device helps circulate air near the floor, which is beneficial for large growing areas.
• Dehumidifier: Helps to purify the air and reduce moisture levels in a room.
• Humidifier: A humidifier creates more moisture in a room by releasing water vapor into the air.
• Thermohydrometer: It measures the temperature and humidity of a space.

Boost Yield with Dissolved Oxygen

The term “dissolved oxygen” (DO) is used to describe the level of saturation of oxygen in water. A higher concentration of O2 in the water is better for marijuana plant roots. Transpiration, which refers to a plant’s release of water vapor, oxygen, and nutrients through stomata, plays an important role in regulating temperature, osmotic pressure within cells, and the steady flow of water and nutrients up from roots.

When cannabis roots are in an environment with lots of oxygen, they can more easily absorb nutrients. Metabolic energy from O2 helps with nutrient uptake so that the plant’s root mass grows larger and tips appear healthier.

A lack of oxygen in the root system impairs water and nutrient uptake. As a result, plant development is slowed, and plants may occasionally wilt as a consequence of heat stress. Throw in lower photosynthesis activity and glucose transport capabilities, and your crop has a lot of issues!

We haven’t even mentioned the increased production of ethylene yet. This flammable hydrocarbon gas could cause cell collapse and increase the risk of disease. If that’s not enough, you also have to deal with a calcium shortage. In short: less oxygen = lower transpiration = bad news!

How Much Do You Need?

Firstly, the only way you can measure dissolved oxygen levels is by buying a specific DO meter. Although most growers are aware of how crucial pH and EC readings are, they’re usually okay with spending money on a device to measure those numbers. You can purchase a pH or EC meter for approximately $30; however, in contrast, a DO meter could cost up to $300! Not only that, but it’s also much harder to use and often requires watching videos just so you have an idea of what’s going on.

In a low-pressure boiler, the dissolved oxygen rate is usually no more than 2.0 ppm. Boiler plant operators, on the other hand, aim to keep it at 0.01 ppm. The DO level in tap water rises to around 5-9 ppm at room temperature. According To most experts in the field, you notice a difference only when the DO level is 12 or more ppm. Plants utilize minerals effectively when the DO level in water is 10 – 12 ppm according to studies by the University of Wisconsin and Minnesota Universities.

Advanced Treatment Technologies is a company run by Dr. Michael Hayes, a biochemist with a Ph.D. in biochemistry. His firm specializes in providing water treatment solutions. He discovered that at a DO rate of 40 – 45 ppm in the root zone, any health and productivity advantages from marijuana reach a plateau. To send the correct quantity to the roots, though, you’ll need to start with considerably higher concentrations in treatments systems.

Increasing the Water’s Dissolved Oxygen Level

A variety of methods exist for elevating DO levels in the water. The most popular technique of enhancing DO levels in water is aeration using a bubbler. Injecting air into the water is the process. However, you must be careful about Henry’s Law. It specifies that gas solubility is determined by the concentration, temperature, and pressure. CO2 is 20 times more soluble than oxygen, for example.

According to Hayes, the use of ozone is inarguably the most practical method to dissolve DO into water because it is 12.5 times more effective than oxygen. However, you must have a robust treatment system that can handle high concentrations of ozone before using an ozone generator. The system should also be able to appropriately mix and secure the molecule since it is highly unstable with a half-life as short as 3-5 minutes upon conversion to DO.

Another possibility is to install a stirring pump at the bottom of the reservoir, connected to minimal tubing, in a hydroponics system. It cycles through the solution on a set timetable or continuously. The method is similar to how water in the seas maintains its flow thanks to currents’ action. When you combine or move water, you allow existing dissolved oxygen to remain stable. Water mixing with air on the reservoir’s surface also increases DO levels.

Hydrogen peroxide is also utilized by growers, but it may cause a level of toxicity that harms your plants in the long run.

Don’t Forget the Water’s Temperature!

When your marijuana plant’s roots are exposed to temperatures below 60 degrees, they will decrease metabolic activity. The so-called sweet spot is between 62 and 66 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow the root zone temperature to remain between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or you risk root rot.

The ideal drinking water for your plants may be water that is completely oxygenated and at a temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit. The same water at 86 degrees has a DO level of just 7.5 ppm, whereas the same water at 70 degrees has only a 0.1% difference in DO levels (about 9 times less). Using room temperature water when feeding your plants makes sense because

Final Thoughts

Though your crop will likely grow without additional dissolved oxygen, savvy growers know that increasing the DO in their water supply provides an edge.

While it may not seem sensible to spend a lot of money on equipment to raise dissolved oxygen or a meter to read the level, if you want to produce commercially, it is an excellent investment. Plants will feel rejuvenated and energized after they have received water with a high concentration of DO. As a result, your plants will grow faster and yield more.