Elite Resin D Test Review

Effects of Elite Resin D Crop Fertilizer Supplement on Essential Oil Production in Scotch Spearmint.

Study conducted at Grozine Research Greenhouse, Vancouver Island BC April to June 2016

Summary

Results show that including Elite Resin D  in the hydroponic nutrient solution, will have a positive impact on final total essential oils extracted and thus are of greater economic interest compared to crops not treated with this bioactive fertilizer supplement.

Editor’s Note: Throughout the study, you will notice text in Italics. These are informal comments and terms being made to address some of the heavier wording, ie Formal Study that is made in Regular Type. You can download the Formal Study as a complete, print ready .PDF HERE.

screen-shot-2016-11-30-at-12-01-33-pm

If you are growing a crop that has it’s market or personal value in the essential oil that is produced, you don’t necessarily need to grow more plants to get more oil—if economics dictate, it may make more sense too maximize the oil content that is produced in a given area rather than using more area to achieve the same final yield of the desired oils.  Basically, getting more oil out of your plants can be more profitable or advantageous in some cases than expanding your growing area (costly).

Grozine Research Greenhouse

Introduction

There are a variety of crops whose perceived economic value relates to the quality and quantity of essential oils that result in the harvest.  Culinary herbs are a common example, and of more recent interest are essential oils as relate to nutraceutical or medicinal applications.  In short, the higher the resin content, the greater the potential economic value of the harvest with other factors remaining equal (ie total harvest weight). Even if you don’t extract the oils, i.e. using plant parts as with many culinary herbs, you add value to your harvest by having higher essential oil contents.  Greater potency is often perceived as better value.

extracting-essential-oils-web

Some nutrient additives formulated for this purpose may contain harmful PGRs (plant growth regulators), and while potentially increasing essential oil contents, may not be healthy to apply or ingest for humans and animals while toxifying soils, grow media and the environment.

Elite Garden Resin D formulation does not contain harmful PGRs and uses basic fertilizer elements and proprietary blends of botanical ingredients (ie extracts or derivatives)

The present study assesses the effect of including Elite Resin D (crop fertilizer additive) on spearmint    plant growth patterns and essential oil concentration. Results indicate that adding Resin D to a complete and nutritionally balanced hydroponic nutrient solution will have a significant and positive effect on increasing essential oil production in Scotch Spearmint (a crop valued for essential oil quality and quantity in harvested material)

drying-hydroponic-herbs

Methodology

Ten cloned Scotch spearmint plants of similar age and size for each treatment (20 plants total) were planted in identical substrates and Recirculating Deep Water Culture hydroponic systems, on April 8th 2016 (one plant per 8” net pot, two plants per UC Pro module, five modules for each treatment, for 10 plants of each treatment). 

The ten plants for each treatment were selected for consistent, size and health from a larger number of plants cloned from identical mother stock in an EZ Clone Low Pro aeroponic plant propagation system).

All twenty plants were grown together for two weeks in the same 5 module RDWC system filled with EvolutionRO filtered water and following the Elite Garden Nutrients Veg program to 0.5 to 0.6 EC. The pH was maintained at 5.6 to 6.2.

After plants were well established, the system was emptied, and ten plants were moved into the other identical 5 module RDWC system. The two systems were filled again with EvolutionRO filtered water and this time filled following the Elite Nutrients Bloom program to 0.5 to 0.6 EC, and maintained at pH 5.6-6.1.  In System A Resin D was added, in system B Resin D was NOT added—the only difference in the two systems. 

During the cropping period, the pH was checked and adjusted daily to 5.6 to 6.1 and fresh EvolutionRO filtered water was used to top off each of the systems as levels depleted from uptake.  The EC was maintained by adding proportionate amounts of Elite Nutrients as per Bloom Feeding program, with System A receiving Resin D in the correct portion to other nutrients added.

img_5215

At harvest, June 10th, 2016 the Six Plants (modules A2, A3, A4 & B2, B3, B4) from each treatment were harvested, and measured for fresh weight, air dry weight and essential oil content.

weighing-hydroponic-herbs

Essential oil extraction from 100 gram dry weight samples of each treatment was performed using a 5L bio flask and glass steam distillation apparatus designed specifically for extracting water soluble botanical oils. Final oil yields per 100 grams of air dried material were measured, and the total yield essential oils for each treatment, was calculated.

Results

elite-resin-d-results

System A, which included Resin D as described through the Methodology section, produced a higher Fresh Weight, Dry Weight and yielded 58% more essential oil extract versus System B, which did not include Resin D with all other factors remains equal through the cropping trial, drying, extraction and analysis.

The best results occurred when Elite Resin D was included as part of the regular feeding program in hydroponic resin producing plants (Scotch Spearmint).

img_5803

The results are significant as related to the topic of interest: getting more essential oils from the same sized area or number of plants.  Here we can see that we have more of the desired product, ie water soluble essential oil from the same number of plants, in the same sized area under the same growing conditions. While not quite doubling the “value” of this crop, adding Resin D clearly made a large and significant difference.

With this in mind, a grower might look at this way: for $X it costs for a food safe crop nutrient additive, I get nearly double the yield of active ingredient while keeping everything else equal.  Comparatively, it costs $Y for me to nearly double my production area, plant counts, etc

Ultimately, most will find that it makes sense from both a marketability and profitability standpoint to safely and effectively maximize your essential oil production versus expanding your operation to achieve the same final yield of desired product.

elite-resin-d-family-web-article elite-feed-chart-black-web-web

About Erik Biksa 247 Articles
Erik Biksa has been writing about and discussing hydroponics growing, related technologies and cropping methods since 1999 in a variety of professional publications and platforms globally Erik has travelled the world learning and teaching modern growing techniques and technologies and is appreciated by many growers for his informative yet hands on approaches. Presently, he is the Editor at Grozine Hydroponics Mag.