The Effects of Organic and Inorganic Nitrogen Fertilizer on the Morphology and Anatomy of Cannabis sativa “Fédrina” (Industrial Fibre Hemp) Grown in Northern British Columbia, Canada

Abstract The effects of organic and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer on the morphology and anatomy of Cannabis sativa “Fédrina” (industrial fibre hemp) was investigated in both a greenhouse and field setting in Northern British Columbia. Plots (90 stems/m2) treated with 0, 75, 150 or 300 kg N/ha of inorganic nitrogen, or fish meal, blood meal or sea star organic fertilizers were also replicated with 90 kg inorganic P2O5/ha application. The application of 150 and/or 300 kg N/ha of any nitrogen fertilizer type benefited field-grown plant morphology, secondary phloem fibre and xylem development, while greenhouse-grown plant morpology, secondary phloem fibre and xylem were positively influenced by 90 kg P2O5/ha. Primary phloem fibre characteristics of both greenhouse and field-grown plants were benefited by the absence of either nitrogen or phosphorus fertilizer. This study determined that the response of C. sativa “Fédrina” fibre production to organic nitrogen application was comparable to that of inorganic nitrogen application.