Efectos de la densidad de siembra sobre el desarrollo y rendimiento del cultivo de Cannabis para flor medicinal

Cannabis cultivation has gained significance in recent years, and Uruguay has not been exempt from this trend. The legalization and regulation of cannabis production and sales for medicinal purposes in the country have opened new opportunities for research and development. In the context of cannabis cultivation, one crucial aspect affecting yield is the planting density. This aspect is currently being discussed in the industry due to its implications on production and costs. Planting density directly influences plant development and modifies the evolution of the crop's leaf area index. This study aims to assess the impact of planting density on the cultivation of medicinal cannabis, specifically focusing on the Monlag variety. Four planting densities were evaluated, with distances of 0.3, 0.7, 1.1, and 1.5 meters between plants within the planting row. The following variables were measured: height, number of nodes per plant, leaf area index, and yield determined by the fresh and dry weight of flowers per plant. The results indicated that planting density had an effect on plant height. Regarding yields per plant, higher yields were observed in taller plants due to their greater development. However, within the range of evaluated densities, yields per hectare did not show significant differences.