Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCwire) - ASHBURTON VENTURES INC. (ABR-TSX:V) (ARB-FRANKFURT) (“Ashburton” or the "Company”) is pleased to announce the analysis of the final weight of dried marijuana harvested from plants involved in a study of cannabis cultivated with zeolite from the Z-1 Zeolite Quarry near Cache Creek, BC.
Plants enriched with a zeolite-carbon blend produced up to 29% more dry cannabis (in a 0.9% to 29.4% range), with an average per-plant increase of 7.8% compared to control plants grown in straight coconut husk fibre (coco coir). Plants enriched with straight zeolite produced up to 19% more dry cannabis (in a 2.3% to 19.0% range), with an average increase of 7.1% in total harvest yields compared to the control group average.
According to Albert Kasprowicz, BSc, “Each of the study’s eighteen test groups and two control groups produced a cluster of six data points within a range. The average value of each data cluster is the key information, because an operation’s total harvest is proportional to the average plant’s yield. We can now predict with confidence the effect of ten distinct soil recipes on total harvests, when applied on an operation-wide scale. Two of those recipes stand out from the rest.”
The study produced a scatter chart of data points measured in grams, representing per-plant marijuana yields in twenty groups of six plants each. The study was split between two strains, Meltdown and CBD God, grouped according to levels of enrichment with straight zeolite, straight carbon, or a zeolite-carbon blend mixed into a base soil of coco coir. To obtain data, whole plants were hung to dry for one week in a controlled-humidity environment before flowers were removed and weight measurements taken under Kasprowicz’ supervision.
Kasprowicz stated, “Straight zeolite and zeolite-carbon blends gave us the biggest gains, each with an average production increase of over 7% consistent across both strains. Our next phase of research will attempt to push this number higher by adjusting zeolite particle sizes. We believe a 10% production increase may be a realistic goal. Our pending order for 20 tons of Z-1 Zeolite has been adjusted to include a blend of fine particle sizes specific to our needs.”
Ashburton President David Gdanski stated, “Our study demonstrates a simpler route to the higher yields cultivators are after. In an industry where costs of production are high, typically exceeding 50% of the wholesale value of marijuana produced, a 7% or 10% increase in yields and revenue can equate to a 15% or 20% increase in net profit. We’re extremely pleased about what our study says about the potential return on investment for Z-1 Zeolite customers in the commercial marijuana sector.”
Ashburton currently awaits Kasprowicz’ analysis of data recently released by MB Labs, to better understand the mechanisms by which zeolite and carbon act to increase marijuana yields.
Ashburton Ventures Inc. is a Canadian-based junior exploration company focused on Canadian mineral projects in Quebec and British Columbia, Canada. If you would like to be added to the news release distribution please get in touch with us at info@ashburtonventures.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Signed “Michael England”
Michael England, CEO