Bacteria and biochar boost hemp yields in salty soil

This research explores how combining phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) with phosphorus-enriched biochar can help hemp plants thrive under saline soil conditions. Salt stress typically harms cannabis crops by creating phosphorus deficiencies, which reduces plant size, health, and cannabinoid production. The study tested two bacterial strains (Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas putida) alongside biochar amendments in hemp plants exposed to salt stress equivalent to severely degraded soils.

The combined treatment dramatically improved plant resilience and cannabinoid yields. When salt-stressed plants received both bacteria and biochar, shoot weight increased by 25%, root development improved by up to 38%, and crucially, CBD content rose by 13% while THC increased by 16% compared to stressed plants with no amendment. The plants also showed 49% higher essential oil yield and significantly reduced cellular damage (MDA levels dropped by 23%). These improvements came from enhanced nutrient availability and stress tolerance, with the bacteria mobilizing locked-up phosphorus while the biochar improved soil structure and water retention.

While this research was conducted in controlled greenhouse settings and requires field testing, the findings suggest a practical agricultural solution for farming cannabis in marginal, salt-affected soils—a significant problem in many regions. This integrated approach could allow cultivators to improve crop productivity and cannabinoid potency without relying solely on chemical fertilizers or abandoning saline-prone farmland, offering both economic and environmental benefits to the cannabis industry.