I was wondering, at what point does adding light start to have a diminishing return effect? I've read plenty of minimum lighting requirements, but where is the approx. per plant sweet spot? With all other variables the same, say you have 10,000 lumens on a plant that makes 1 ounce, 15,000 lumens on a plant that makes 1.5 ounces, 20,000 lumens on a plant that makes 2 ounces, etc. What I'm trying to say is, is there a direct linear correlation between the amount of lumens a cannabis plant receives and the yield, or is there a point where you start to get diminishing returns? I'm assuming it's the latter. Say at 30,000 lumens you yield 3 ounces, but at 40,000 you only yield 3.5, at 50,000 3.75, and so on and so forth. Has there been any documented experiements that provide an example of what I am trying to figure out, or does anyone have personal experience with dimishing returns from too many lumens?
There is such thing as overkill, but respectfully I think the question misses the point. The goal shouldn't be to grow the most effective bud-to-wattage ratio possible but to grow the best bud possible. That "sweet spot" you refer to could be at a point that the plant is producing wispy, fluffy, less potent buds. You want pretty much as much light as possible on the plant, within reason, to reach the commonly-desired outcome of the biggest yield of the most potent smoke.
I just have this thing where I have to make everything as efficient as possible. I figure someone might have done some experimentation on diminishing returns with lighting, so one could consistently reach the point right before any dimishing return starts to occur.