You won’t find Malistan of Ghazni Afghanistan on any development index. It’s a scatter of mud-walled villages tucked into a high-altitude bowl in the western edge of Ghazni province, where the Hazarajat begins to fold into itself.
Now, let’s talk soil, because that’s what I came to understand. The valley floors and alluvial fans are where life happens. The soil is a high-altitude loess, wind-blown silt, deep and fine, with a texture that crumbles beautifully in your hand when it’s got some moisture. It’s naturally calcareous, heavy with calcium carbonate. That’s the good news, because it means decent structure and natural fertility if you treat it right. The bad news is the organic matter content is pitifully low, often under 1%. Generations of desperate survival stripped the land of its cover. This soil starves for what it used to have.
Since the cannabis is now restricted under the current regime, the farmers are forced to cultivate the plants far away from the agriculture lands. Poor soil, limited irrigations and other challenges has made life difficult t here, but regional Hash plant genetics are well adapted and survive pretty much all the challenges of the season, the short or squat height, dark and broad foliage crop is a signature Afghan local Hash plant genetics for Ultra results and yeilds Ultra Trichome production.
Ghazni , plants bouncing back from the drought stress like it did not happen.
Nature does the selection in such conditions, it really does not favour the best looking plants rather those who survived the challenges and made it through the difficult season and reproduced.
Any seed that you may have from a Landrace crop from anywhere in the world goes through the same process. Thats what makes them special and important.
I also have calcium carbonate in my soil, but I live in Thailand. Do you think they could grow and finish here with some night light?. The winter here have more dry air
I think they can perform well in Thailand if you limit the flowering stage to the dry cold seasons. But from what I have observed growing similar varieties in my area you have to choose well ventilated spot with good drainage or they can make mold
Thank you for sharing. I’ve seed strains from the Baba Quo collection in 2018. Way too old. First attempt seeds sunk to bottom of glass like rocks. Of 20 (kushkak) only 2 popped and they were staggered two weeks apart. I scrapped the grow. Still have seeds from Kohlm. Indica produces well outdoor my location. Keep us informed am interested in what you have shared. Thank You!
**33°N
goes through the same process. Thats what makes them special and important.