Participatory research: making farmers our research partners

Non-Peer ReviewedAddressing the needs of primary producers through publicly funded research and development programs has become a higher priority in this time of limited resources. Traditionally, we have relied on the research- extension- producer flow of information to influence research program development, or have we? Many would argue that most research is based on the intuition, 'gut-feelings' and available funding for those scientists involved. Commodity groups (canola, flax and pulse) have allocated check -off resources toward directed research goals, successfully addressing the issues identified as highest priority by their producer members. The Melfort Research Station has been asked to develop new and innovative ways of conducting its research programs which will increase the role played by producers and extension staff. Developing a collaborative role for primary producers, extension agrologists and research scientists in program planning, priority setting, fund raising, and technology transfer, requires a significant change in both activities and attitude by all parties. The development of regional specific Learning Centres is presented as a model for enabling increased participation by all parties in developing solutions to current problems. Understanding the impact of introduced new technology on whole-farm operation and economic viability is also presented as a critical component to development of effective research and development programs

Balancing nutrient inputs with removals

Non-Peer ReviewedA nutrient input – removal workbook was developed to assist CCAs and farmers in understanding the impact of crop management on soil fertility. Used in combination with soil testing, the PKalc program can help with understanding the estimated impacts of management on current and future crop production, by balancing the nutrient removal by crops grown and nutrients added

4R Nutrient Stewardship for Improved Nutrient Use Efficiency

AbstractFertilizers play a significant role in securing the production of food crops around the world. In fact, it is estimated that fertilizers currently support 40-60% of all crop production currently. Meeting future food security targets requires the responsible use of fertilizer nutrients. The 4R Nutrient Stewardship guidelines were developed by the fertilizer industry as a process to guide fertilizer Best Management Practices (BMP) in all regions of the world. This approach was required to address the growing concern that fertilizers are applied indiscriminately to the detriment of the environment. Given that farmers purchase fertilizers at world prices in most regions, and these prices have been steadily increasing over time, most users are very cautious about the rates of nutrients they apply. To avoid unnecessary policy intervention by governments, the fertilizer industry needs to be unified in their promotion of BMPs that support improved nutrient use efficiency and environmental sustainability, while supporting the farmer's profitability. This ultimately comes down to developing appropriate recommendations that match crop nutrient requirements fertilizer additions and minimize nutrient losses from fields. This lead to the 4R Nutrient Stewardship concept, applying the Right Source of nutrients, at the Right Rate, at the Right Time and in the Right Place. Right source means matching the fertilizer to the crop need and soil properties. A major part of source is balance between the various nutrients, a major challenge globally in improving nutrient use efficiency. Finally, some fertilizer products are preferred to others based on the soil properties, like pH. Right rate means matching the fertilizer applied to the crop need – simple as that. However, this is far from being a simple concept when you consider the variations in yield goals, previous crop management, crop residue management, influence of legume crops in rotation, etc. Adding too much fertilizer leads to residual nutrients in the soil and losses to the environment. Ultimately, striking a balance between the crop needs, environmental conditions and the farmers economic situation is required. Right time means making fertilizer nutrients available to the crop when they are needed. Nutrient use efficiency can be increased significantly when their availability is synchronized with crop demand. Split time of application, slow and controlled release fertilizer technology, stabilizers and inhibitors are just a few examples of how fertilizer nutrients can be better timed for efficient crop uptake. Right place means making every effort to keep nutrients where crops can use them. This is an issue which poses the greatest challenge in small holder agricultural systems, where most fertilizer is broadcast applied, and in many cases without incorporation. Research indicates that fertilizer placement can not only improve crop response, but also improve fertilizer use efficiency significantly by lowering nutrient application rates. Adaptation to non-mechanized agriculture have been made in certain regions which clearly support efforts to modify fertilizer placement as a BMP

No-till seeded winter wheat: influence of date of nitrogen application on the seasonal pattern of crop growth and water use

Non-Peer ReviewedAn experiment was carried out to determine the influence of fertilizer N timing on the early season crop development and water use (ET) of no-till seeded winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Ammonium nitrate N was surface broadcast either as early as possible (early), split between 2/3 early and 1/3 at the beginning of stem elongation (split), and 3 weeks after early (late), at rates of 0, 67, 134, and 202 kg N ha-1. Early and split-N application increased the early season plant development over Iate-N as recorded by tiller number and leaf area production. The development and maintenance of a larger leaf area with N fertilization in 1987 resulted in increased grain yields. However, high evaporative demand prior to anthesis in 1988 resulted in the 'collapse' of early season leaf and tiller responses. A positive correlation (r=0.82*) was recorded between leaf stomatal conductance (gl) and leaf relative water content, illustrating the importance of tissue water content in maintaining high photosynthetic activity. While added N increased pre-anthesis gl over the unfertilized check, the opposite response was recorded during the post-anthesis grain filling period. Increasing fertilizer N rate increased seasonal ET at 2 of the 8 trials by increasing post-anthesis ET over the unfertilized check. High pre-anthesis evaporative demand reduced season long ET to 159 mm in 1988, 59 % of the 218 mm recorded in 1987. Soil water contributed 16 % of total ET in 1987 and 30 % in 1988. The bulk of this soil water was taken up pre-anthesis, with 98 % of post-anthesis ET coming from rainfall

No-till seeded winter wheat: influence or date of nitrogen application on the grain yield, grain protein, and yield components

Non-Peer ReviewedAn experiment was carried out to determine the influence of date of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application on the grain yield, quality, and water use efficiency (WUE) for dry matter and grain yield production of no-till seeded winter wheat. Ammonium nitrate N was surface broadcast either as early as possible in the spring (early), split between 2/3 early and 113 at the beginning of stem elongation (split), and 3 weeks after early (late), at rates of 0,34,67,101,134,167, and 202 kg N ha-1. Grain yields ranged from 0.25 to 2.5 t ha-1. High pre-anthesis evaporative demand in 1988 reduced mean grain yield to 0.89 t ha-1 (42 % of 1987 yields). While 3 of the 8 trials showed a positive response to N rate, date of N application had no effect on harvest yield and yield components. Grain protein yield and protein concentration were better indicators of N response under these high stress conditions with 6 and 7, respectively, of the 8 trials showing a positive response to N rate. Added N increased water use efficiency of dry matter and grain yield in 5 and 3 of the trials, respectively. Increases in WUE were a reflection of grain and dry matter yield responses to added N and not differences in season long ET. The threshold ET required for zero dry matter and grain yield was 46 and 77 mm, respectively. Forward step-wise regression identified pre-anthesis evaporative demand as the only environmental or soil water parameter influencing harvest dry matter and grain yield response. Dependence of crop response on pre-anthesis evaporation indicates that yield was a function of the atmospheric demand for water in this experiment. Kernels per spike was the yield component that best represented grain yield, explaining 82 % of the variation recorded. High evaporative demand during stem elongation reduced the survival of early established tillers and increased the role of kernels per spike, the other pre-anthesis determined yield component, in grain yield formation. Only with the unfertilized check, where pre-anthesis production was reduced due to N deficiencies, did kernel weight have any significant influence in determining grain yield

Print versus digital preferences of university students in Australia

This paper presents findings of a survey that investigated the reading preferences of university students at Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia. This survey is being undertaken as part of the Academic Reading Format International Study (ARFIS), which is investigating print versus digital reading preferences in 31 countries. A total of 582 students completed the survey. Results from the survey indicate a strong preference for reading in print because of issues such as eyestrain, tactile features, better focus, and ability to highlight and take notes. Issues such as cost, usability and accessibility also impacted on students’ reading decisions

Influence of nitrogen rate, form, and placement on the establishment of no-till winter wheat seedlings

Non-Peer Reviewe

Using phenomenography to bridge the gap between research and practice: a meta-analysis of three phenomenographic studies

Introduction. The findings of three recent phenomenographic studies conducted by a practitioner-researcher team (the information literacy experiences of English as a foreign language (EFL) students, how international branch campus faculty members experience the academic library and the open access experiences of faculty members in online education) are analysed to discover what practical implications were revealed from the categories of description that can be used in practice. Method. Meta-analysis of the categories of description of three phenomenographic studies was conducted. Analysis. Categories of description were analysed iteratively in order to identify which library services and processes could be informed by the results of phenomenographic research. Results. The meta-analysis of phenomenographic results shows that there were three library services and processes: information literacy instruction, scholarly communication and evaluation of services, where research results can be applied to improve library practice. Conclusions. The phenomenographic method reveals useful results of library users’ experiences and perceptions that can be used as a guide for improving library practice across a variety of settings

Sulphur fertilizers for alfalfa

Non-Peer Reviewe

Maser action in methanol transitions

We report the detection with the ATCA of 6.7 GHz methanol emission towards OMC-1. The source has a size between 40'' and 90'', is located to the south-east of Ori-KL and may coincide in position with the 25 GHz masers. The source may be an example of an interesting case recently predicted in theory where the transitions of traditionally different methanol maser classes show maser activity simultaneously. In addition, results of recent search for methanol masers from the 25 and 104.3 GHz transitions are reported.Comment: To appear in the Proceedings of the 2004 European Workshop: "Dense Molecular Gas around Protostars and in Galactic Nuclei", Eds. Y.Hagiwara, W.A.Baan, H.J. van Langevelde, 2004, a special issue of ApSS, Kluwer; author list has been corrected, text is unchange