2021 | United States | Controlled plant experiments
Westmoreland FM et al. PLOS ONE. 2021;16:e0248988.
Methods: Utah State University researchers conducted three experiments with CBD-dominant medical hemp, comparing blue-light fractions under controlled conditions. They evaluated flower yield, cannabinoid concentrations, and lighting efficiency.
Findings: Increasing the blue-light fraction reduced flower yield in these experiments without changing CBD or THC concentration. Fixture electricity efficiency could outweigh spectrum-related yield differences when comparing production cost.
Limitations: The work involved particular hemp genetics and controlled environments. It did not compare grow-tent brands or establish the best equipment for every cultivar, space, electricity price, or budget.