Altered NPK Fertigation With Triacontanol Supplementation Indicates Promising Improvements to Cannabis Flower Yield and Volatile Composition

Cannabis is cultivated for its flowers, which are abundant in volatile terpenes that impact sensory and therapeutic properties. These compounds are therefore targets for enhancement during cultivation. One such strategy is the provision of biostimulants, such as the long‐chain primary alcohol triacontanol (TRIA), which may be sourced from plant waxes and beeswax. Altered nutrient supply and provision of TRIA have been demonstrated to impact plant growth, metabolism, yield, and quality across a broad range of crops. However, data on cannabis‐specific effects are limited. Accordingly, this study presents a first evaluation ( n = 3) of an adjusted fertigation regimen including reduced N, increased P and K, and inclusion of TRIA (herein referred to as “PKT”), on cannabis flower yields. Results indicated a 1.79‐fold increase in flower yield, a 0.70‐fold reduction in CBD, along with statistically significant or marginally significant changes to the volatiles: α‐phellandrene, ocimene, sabinene hydrate, and trans‐nerolidol. Vector modelling indicated that these volatile changes were associated with reductions in the odours: floral, green, tropical, vegetable, and waxy, which were expected to cause reductions in perceived quality. Statistical modelling of the volatile profiles indicated that the PKT regimen flowers were associated with increased utility for anxiety, and decreased utility for depression. This study supports the PKT regimen as a promising adjustment to standard growth protocols, with the potential to improve flower yield and modulate volatiles. Future studies should explore commercial‐scale validation across cultivars, environments, and consistency over multiple harvests.