Soils and Fertility - Canadian Agronomist

Digging into Research

28 Jul Heavy tillage on moist fields increases compaction, reduces yield

Posted at 14:57h in Soils and Fertility

Heavy tillage  can increase soil compaction, reduce soil strength  and reduce  canola yields, especially when carried out under higher moisture conditions and in the spring, prior  to planting. Excessive precipitation and limited drying weather around the time of various field operations (ex. seeding, input application and...

21 Jul Black medic cover crop improves soil stability

Posted at 21:47h in Soils and Fertility

Generally, a black medic cover crop reduced the proportion of small aggregates and increased the proportion of large aggregates. Medic offers a natural way to maintain soil health in low external input cropping systems. Black medic is a self-regenerating cover crop that grows under the crop...

14 Jul Foliar-applied P can help with in-season deficiency

Posted at 18:37h in Soils and Fertility

While this Saskatchewan study did show a yield response for foliar-applied phosphorus (P) when compared to a control without any P fertilizer, the best practice is still to meet crop needs with fertilizer applications before or at the time of seeding. This study evaluated the response...

07 Jul Fertigation of wheat and canola

Posted at 22:02h in Soils and Fertility

In canola, the net return with the full rate of nitrogen side-banded at seeding was always greater than the same rate split-applied as side-banded N and fertigation. In HRSW spring wheat, late-season in-crop applications of N by fertigation could be used to boost grain protein,...

08 Apr Pulse crops differ in nitrogen fixation dynamics

Posted at 16:39h in Soils and Fertility

The research suggests that improving pulse nitrogen fixation by targeting an increase in nodule numbers and nodule biomass could help improve long term cropping sustainability and reduce reliance on inorganic N fertilizer. In addition, developing pulse varieties with improved water-stress tolerance may improve the N-fixation...

12 Dec Seedrow starter fertilizer for pulses

Posted at 23:05h in Soils and Fertility

Sensitivity of pulse crops to seedrow placed nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur fertilizer products was lentil > pea ~ chickpea > soybean ~ black bean > faba bean. Overall and under good moisture conditions, a maximum of 10 kg N/ha rate as starter in the seedrow...

07 Nov Flax response to N and P fertilizer

Posted at 21:58h in Soils and Fertility

On sites testing low in nitrogen (N) fertility, flax yields were 39% higher with rates of 90 lbs. N side-banded per acre. Flax response to phosphorus (P) averaged 7% and rates of no more than 18 to 36 side-banded P2O5 per acre were justified. Phosphorus...

17 Oct Building phosphorus fertility

Posted at 20:35h in Soils and Fertility

Over six years the highest wheat yields were achieved where a medium-high soil phosphorus (P) level (15 ppm) was achieved with an initial broadcast application of 327 pounds P2O5 per acre. On soils with very low P fertility, yields were four to five bushels lower...

16 Sep 4R management of phosphorus fertilizer

Posted at 19:56h in Soils and Fertility

To achieve 4R principles, placing ammonium phosphate fertilizer in a band, in or near the seed-row, at the time of seeding and at a rate that matches P removal by the crop generally provides the greatest P efficiency, long-term sustainability, and environmental protection for small...

28 Aug Nitrogen management strategies for winter wheat

Posted at 16:34h in Soils and Fertility

Split applications of N usually provided the maximum yield and protein, particularly with Agrotain or SuperU. This study consisted of two experiments each conducted at five sites across western Canada at Brandon, Manitoba, Hallonquist (south of Swift Current), Saskatchewan, and Lethbridge and Lacombe, Alberta to assess...