The response of grain crops to fertilizer application with various cropping practices, Melfort, 1967

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Livestock manures for crop production and soil improvement

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Tillage systems for summerfallow preparation in north-central Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedThis paper examines the agronomic and economic performance of seven summerfallow - spring wheat tillage systems studied over a 18 year period on a highly fertile silty clay loam soil at Melfort, Saskatchewan. During 1969-76, areas planted to wheat had the seedbed prepared with a cultivator and harrow; since 1977 one-half of each plot area received conventional seedbed preparation, the other half was sprayed with herbicide and zero till seeded. Overall, wheat yields averaged 3239 kg ha-1 for tillage alone, 3280 kg ha-1 for reduced tillage (combinations of tillage and herbicides), and 3347 kg ha-1 for herbicides only. On an annual basis, method of summerfallow preparation significantly influenced grain yields in only 6 of 18 years. In 3 of these years yields were lowest for tillage alone and highest for herbicides only; in 2 years yields were lowest for reduced tillage, and in 1 year yields were lowest for herbicides only. During 1977-86, preparation of the seedbed by tillage significantly increased yields (compared to zero till seeding) in 6 of 10 years, but it resulted in significantly lower yields in 4 of 10 years. Volume weight, protein content, and % P concentration in the grain were unaffected by the method used for fallow or seedbed preparation. Results of the economic analysis showed that total costs for the complete rotation systems were lowest for the all tillage treatment (average: $109 ha-1), intermediate for reduced tillage (average:$129 to $158 ha-1), and highest for herbicides only (average:$179 ha-1). Although the substitution of herbicides for mechanical tillage provided resource savings in the range of $2 to$10 ha-1, this was more than offset by the increased expenditures for herbicides. Net returns (income above all costs) were highest for tillage alone (average: $129 ha-1) and lowest for the herbicide only treatment in which paraquat or glyphosate was used in combination with dicamba (average:$54 ha-1) . The reduced tillage systems generally produced a net return that averaged $18 to$44 ha-1 lower than the traditional system. The maximum expenditure that could be made for herbicides to break even with the traditional system ranged from $22 to$29 ha-1 for the reduced tillage systems, and from $31 to$37 ha-1 for the herbicides only treatments. The study concluded that although the substitution of herbicides for some or all of the mechanical tillage is attractive to producers from an agronomic and soil conservation perspective, the present economic conditions and in particular, the high cost of herbicides, remains a major deterrent to widespread adoption

Spring wheat rotations in north-central Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedEffects of rotation length, crop sequence, and fertilization on yields and economic performance of 10 spring wheat-based rotations are examined over a 27-year period (1960-86) on an Orthic Black Chernozem at Melfort, Saskatchewan. The silty clay loam soil had an initial organic N content of about 0.55 % (0-15 cm depth). During 1960-71, fertilized plots received N and P based on general recommendations for the region; thereafter, fertilizer was applied based on soil tests. Yields of wheat grown on fertilized fallow were similar for F-W, F-W-W and a 6-yr fallow-wheat-legume hay (F-W-W-H-H-W) rotation (avg 2519 kg ha-1 in 1960-71 and 3036 kg ha-1 in the wetter 1972-86 period). Fertilized stubble wheat yields in a F-W-W rotation averaged 88 % of comparable fallow wheat yields, while continuous wheat averaged only 66 % due to greater weed and disease problems. Inclusion of grass-legume hay or legume green manure crops in the rotations provided no yield benefit for subsequent wheat crops in this fertile soil. Results of the economic analysis showed that at wheat prices greater than $147 t-1, fertilized F-W-W, F-C-W and F-W-W-H-H-W generally provided the best overall economic return. At lower wheat prices unfertilized F-W-W and F-W-W-H-H-W, and fertilized F-W often provided the highest net income. It was profitable to substitute canola for wheat grown on conventional fallow or on partial fallow after grass-legume hay when the ratio of canola to wheat price was greater than about 2.0. Similarly, it was profitable to include grass-legume hay in wheat rotations when the hay price was greater than about one-half that of wheat. Continuous wheat and legume green manure rotation were not economically competitive with the best rotations at any of the price options examined. Fertilizer application was profitable in the F-W-W and continuous wheat rotations when the ratio of fertilizer N cost to wheat price was less than about 5.0; it was profitable in F-W-W-H-H-W when this ratio was less than 3.5. The cost of producing wheat, income variability, and the frequency of economic losses increased with cropping intensity

The influence of fall and spring herbicide application on winter wheat

Non-Peer ReviewedThe use of 2,4-D for fall control of winter annuals weeds in winter wheat is recommended in the Canadian prairies but not in other winter wheat production areas. Field research was conducted for two years at several locations using 2,4-0, MCPA, dicamba, dicamba plus 2,4-D, bromoxynil, bromoxynil plus MCPA, chlorsulfuron and clopyralid applied fall and spring. Recommended and double recommended rates were tested to establish the existence of a safety margin. Norstar winter wheat was tolerant to fall applications of all herbicides when applied at recommended rates, however, grain yield was reduced at the double rate with 2,4-D, MCPA, bromoxynil, bromoxynil plus MCPA and clopyralid in some station years. Norstar was tolerant to spring applications of all herbicides except MCPA and clopyralid in several station years. Herbicides tested show promise for use in winter wheat production. Caution is warranted for spring application of MCPA and clopyralid

The long-term agronomic and economic effects of crop rotations in western Canada

Non-Peer ReviewedAgriculture Canada Research Stations in western Canada have conducted more than 68 long-term crop rotation experiments since the early 1900's; twenty of these are still ongoing. A committee of scientists, representing all Research Stations on the Prairies has just completed an in-depth review and summary of the major findings from these studies. Based on their findings, they also developed recommendations that can be used by managers in decision making and rationalization of resource use for current and future studies of this kind. The resulting two publications which will be released in early 1990 include: i) a bulletin entitled 'Benefits of Crop Rotation for Sustainable Agriculture in Dryland Farming', 'Which presents producer recommendations on how to run an efficient, economical, and environmentally responsible cropping operation, and ii) a detailed technical book entitled 'Crop Rotation Studies on the Canadian Prairies', which is directed at the scientific community but is also useful for extension personnel and producers. This paper highlights some of the main aspects reported in these publications and attempts to give a coherent and broader interpretation of the underlying principles and processes of crop production. The discussion focuses on the effects of rotation length, crop sequence, substitutes for summerfallow, and N and P fertilizer, on crop production, grain and forage quality, soil moisture conservation and moisture use efficiency, N and P uptake by the plants, nutrient losses, soil quality, profitability, nonrenewable energy efficiency, and crop pests

Crop management on the parkland soils of Saskatchewan

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