1st Edition
Handbook of Cannabis Production in Controlled Environments
For thousands of years, Cannabis sativa, commonly called cannabis or marijuana, has been used for many different purposes. Due to its enormous medicinal values, increasing numbers of countries and regions have started to legalise the cultivation of this plant. When grown commercially, cannabis is most often produced in controlled environments including greenhouse and indoor growing rooms, to ensure consistent growth and high quality. Even for field production, propagation is frequently conducted in controlled environments. Commercial operations and individual growers who cultivate cannabis for personal consumption, require scientific information on how to cultivate cannabis most effectively and efficiently. To meet these needs, scientists have been conducting research on how to optimize cannabis cultivation both in small and large scales.
Handbook of Cannabis Production in Controlled Environments is the result of collaborations between some leading cannabis scientists and highly experienced practitioners. Featuring full-color illustrations and photographs throughout, this book covers a broad range of topics include cannabis biology; science and techniques for breeding and propagation; management and optimization of both aerial and rootzone environments; plant nutrition and nutrient disorder diagnosis; crop training and pest management; harvesting and post-harvest processing. Along with the basic aspects of controlled environment cannabis production, this book summarises developments in these areas that may challenge old beliefs and improve production.
Led by Editor, Youbin Zheng, President of the Canadian Society for Horticultural Science/La Société Canadienne de Science Horticole, this book is a practical guide for cultivators, consultants, and researchers; a reference for students; and an information source for individuals who grow cannabis for personal consumption.
Preface ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. vii
Editor …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ix
Contributors …………………………………………………………………………………………….. xi
Chapter 1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………..1
Youbin Zheng and Ernest Small
Chapter 2 Growing Facilities and Environmental Control ……………………………………….. 13
Michael Stasiak and Mike Dixon
Chapter 3 Genetics and Plant Breeding of Cannabis sativa for Controlled Environment
Production …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 41
Ernest Small
Chapter 4 Cannabis Propagation ……………………………………………………………………….. 91
Max Jones and Adrian S. Monthony
Chapter 5 Rootzone Management in Cannabis Production ……………………………………….. 123
Youbin Zheng
Chapter 6 Lighting and CO2 in Cannabis Production ……………………………………………….. 163
Youbin Zheng and David Llewellyn
Chapter 7 Canopy Management …………………………………………………………………..……..189
Philipp Matzneller, Juan David Gutierrez and Deron Caplan
Chapter 8 Management of Diseases on Cannabis in Controlled Environment
Production …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 213
Cameron Scott and Zamir Punja
Chapter 9 Management of Insect Pests on Cannabis in Controlled
Environment Production ……………………………………………………………………………….. 253
Jason Lemay and Cynthia Scott-Dupree
Chapter 10 Harvest and Post-Harvest …………………………………………………………….. 291
Deron Caplan, Philipp Matzneller and Juan David Gutierrez
Index …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 313
Biography
Dr. Youbin Zheng is a professor in the Ontario Agricultural College at the University of Guelph,
and the president of the Canadian Society for Horticultural Science. He joined the University of
Guelph in 2000, and has more than 25 years research experience in controlled environment plant
production. His research has resulted in about 150 peer-reviewed scientific papers, more than ten
book chapters and numerous extension articles and scientific reports. His recent research focus
includes indoor cannabis and other medicinal and nutraceutical plant production, greenhouse ornamental
and vegetable production, and nursery and landscape plant production and maintenance,
especially of rootzone management and lighting. Dr. Zheng has been actively involved in indoor
cannabis production research since early 2010. His group has published North America’s few peerreviewed
scientific papers on indoor cannabis production. He developed the world first universitylevel
cannabis production course in 2019 and has been teaching this course since. Dr. Zheng has
been frequently invited to speak about his research results, both nationally and internationally.
