Since NPK testing is referenced;
HERE is where I previously posted some results, if needed. (earlier in this thread)
It should be noted that my Bullrider is one of those strains that has a larger change in N threshold from early bloom to peak bloom.
After I had done the NPK testing, medium testing, container testing and most of the researching; I still had not seen any variable(s) that resulted in achieving numbers that were "normal" when I had been doing things all wrong. As well, from results of NPK testing it was obvious that: in order for my bull to achieve a higher yield without ruining "bud form or getting "larf; The missing / needed variable MUST be found in weeks 3-6 (peak bloom).
Still considering variations from old to new methods and research into reductase changes; I began to test Ammonium percentages as part of the total Nitrogen added. The intention with adding an ammonium percentage, was to investigate if part of the nitrate reductase system could be "bypassed" to allow a higher level of "total nitrogen" without toxicity. Ammonium levels were tested from 5-25% of total N and the Nitrate component was kept below a known toxicity level while total Nitrogen was above this point. At higher ammonium percentages, some of the obvious ammonium side effects were at the edge of showing; lighter green leaves, slightly smaller leaf area, etc. To my dismay, this still did not result in any apparent changes to "dry weight" nor get closer to those previous numbers. (even though the focus was on week 3-6 here, I did also test ammonium from weeks 1-3 to see if it altered node spacing; ....it did not).
Finally, I ran tests with "pk booster ratios" even though that was not something I had ever added; when doing it wrong. Since no other tests had shown results and (when doing it wrong) I did not ever water to run-off; I thought it may have been possible to have somehow hit PK boost ratios without knowing it. The results with this were covered in the "caveat"; prior when I talked about npk stuff. To reiterate though, even this did not affect final dry weight (however as mentioned did increase maturation rate / earlier swelling of calyx).
At this point, I totally admit to being super frustrated! I had tested every single variable that could be thought of and from multiple angles. As well, it is definitely worthwhile mentioning that any of the "newer" strains I had been raising, over this time; seemed to do just fine and produce dry weights that I would consider "normal". So (pardon french) I was thinking "what the fuck is going on!?" Actually, I also started considering the possibility (not knowing what else) that the genetics had somehow modified or lost vigor; specifically with bull.
