Recent trends in N, P, K, and S soil test levels in Saskatchewan

Non-Peer Reviewe

Soil fertility issues

Non-Peer ReviewedThirteen field demonstrations were established during the summer of 1990 to evaluate the effectiveness of several fertilization practices. Yield responses to application of copper fertilizer were observed at two of nine sites. No yield response to boron application was observed with wheat or canola. No yield response of durum to application of KCl with the seed was observed. The level of chloride in soils is directly related to the level of salinity. Application of extra nitrogen to a field with high levels of residual nitrogen increased grain yields by a maximum of 10%. A comparison of the results and fertilizer recommendations for SSTL and a second laboratory found excellent agreement of the soil test levels, but plant tissue levels of micronutrients indicated that recommendations for application of micronutrients to flax were not warranted

Phosphorus status of a soil in a long-term experiment

Non-Peer ReviewedAn experiment that was established in 1982 to assess placement of P fertilizer on the yield of continuous barley was terminated in 2004, after annual application of P (30 kg ha-1) was discontinued in all but one treatment in 2001. Total removal of P during the first 20 years of the experiment (615 kg P2O5 ha-1) was virtually equal to total P application (600 kg P2O5 ha-1); however, when removal by the control that was fertilized with N only was subtracted from the total removal, a residual P component of 474 kg P2O5 ha-1 was obtained as a result. In spite of this, discontinuing P fertilization after 20 years of annual application of 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 resulted in significant reduction in barley grain yield that was greater in the treatments that P was seedrow placed (21%) than either banded (12%) or 1/3 seedrow placed and 2/3 banded (15%). Four week burial of PRS™ probes in 2006 allowed us to ascertain the reasons for these differences that reflected management and P placement practices. The use of PRS™ probes allowed us to interpret over 90% of variations both in P removal and yield of barley over the duration of the experiment

Accounting of nitrogen levels in Saskatchewan soils

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Soil fertility issues

Non-Peer Reviewe

Responses to sulphur and micronutrient fertilization in Saskatchewan (1986-1988)

Non-Peer Reviewe

Soil fertility issues

Non-Peer ReviewedIn 1991, the Saskatchewan soil testing laboratory established programs to address some of the concerns and questions raised by producers. With the cooperation of fertilizer dealers, the lab established 12 strip trials on various fields involving yield responses to various fertilizer treatments. Fertilization with copper, boron, sulfur, phosphorus, potassium, and chloride was evaluated on one or more of the following crops: canola, wheat, alfalfa, and barley

Fertility analysis and recommendations manager (F.A.R.M.)

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Soil applied contains WG as an integrated management approach to white mold

Non-Peer Reviewed2017 and 2018 were not sclerotinia years according to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture's provincial canola survey. Yet a local Irrigation Crop Diversification Corporation strip demonstration with Contans on an irrigated site near Riverhurst in the Lake Diefenbaker area showed modest yield response for both lentil and dry bean in 2017 and canola in 2018. What makes this result more remarkable is that the yield response occurred even though the grower applied a blanket treatment of foliar fungicide for sclerotinia control on both fields. Contans may potentially be applied through an irrigation pivot following harvest when soils are being recharged with moisture. Registration of this practice is currently being pursued

Handling of soil samples prior to testing

Non-Peer Reviewe