elbow room important for yield?

i was recently advised, to stop the bunching togeather of plants. so i made more room, and now the plants have more light penetrating. i think this may have been the hidden secret, that i was haveing a heck of a time. for instance, i ounce got 17.5 oz off five gods. since, i have maxed at 2 oz per. thinking back, i think all i had in my area at the time, was the five plants......and i have since been sho horning in up to 11. i have been doing "staggered" grows. meaning 9 plants are all two weeks apart in flowering. this way, i dont have a ton of smoke to trim all at ounce. lol. anyway, now, i have re installed my 600 hps in the tent, moved the t-5 vewg to differnet room. cut the plants down to 6 under the 1000. four in the tent. added 2" insulated reflective foam board under their little feet, added some bone, and kelp meal to the pots. and .................now we shall she if these adjustments, give me more yeild. golly i love this hobby....

As long as the bud sites are getting light, then pack em in as close as you wanna. I lolly-pop my plants with just the main Cola, so I pack 72 of them together on a 4'x8' table. Theyre packed in!!