The recent passage of the Hemp Access and Consumer Safety Act has expanded opportunities for organic hemp cultivation and product development. However, limited knowledge of pest management under organic systems presents significant challenges to sustainable production. This study aimed to develop a resilient, organic hemp production system through the integration of plant, soil, and microbial analyses. A commercially available hemp variety was cultivated under both organic and conventional management systems to assess the effects of organic practices on arthropod communities, rhizosphere microbiomes, plant defense signaling, and yield. Comprehensive analyses included arthropod surveys, 16S rDNA microbial sequencing, phytohormone profiling, and cannabinoid quantification.

Results revealed that organically managed hemp supported higher pest densities but also harbored approximately twice as many natural enemies compared to conventionally managed hemp. Despite elevated pest pressure, organic hemp exhibited greater biomass and flower yield. Elevated concentrations of salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA) were detected in organic hemp, suggesting enhanced activation of plant defense pathways. Furthermore, these phytohormonal changes were associated with distinct rhizosphere microbial community compositions. Collectively, our findings indicate that soil microbial dynamics in organic systems may mediate plant defense responses, thereby enhancing hemp resilience and reducing pest susceptibility. This work provides foundational insights for developing ecologically based pest management strategies in organic hemp production.

Learning Objectives: 

• Quantify how organic production systems influence plant resistance to hemp pests through rhizosphere microbial community dynamics
  
  
• Evaluate the combined efficacy of OMRI-listed insecticides and biological control agents for pest control