A survey of zero-till researchers in western Canada and the northern states.

Non-Peer Reviewe

Row spacing, yields, and the bottom line – how wide can we go?

Non-Peer Reviewe

Effects of soil temperature, soil moisture content and seeding depth on germination and emergence of winter wheat

Non-Peer Reviewe

Effect of tillage and crop rotation on soil quality factors

Non-Peer Reviewe

Seeding rate and seeding depth

Non-Peer Reviewe

Altering the competitiveness of tame oat verses wild oat with phosphorous and seeding rate

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Olsen-P distribution in a thin Black Chernozem as influenced by fertilizers and crop rotations

Non-Peer ReviewedInorganic phosphorus (P) is generally believed to be relatively immobile in Chernozemic soils. However, available P (e.g., Olsen-P) has been found at depth in some soils and this has been postulated to be either the result of leaching or of transportation by plant roots. Legumes, in particular, are believed to be involved in the latter mechanism. A long-term (34-yr) crop rotation study conducted on a heavy clay, thin Black Chernozemic soil at Indian Head, Saskatchewan, was sampled to a depth of 4.5 m in May and September, 1991, to determine the influence of fertilization, cropping frequency, legume green manure and legume-grass hay crops on Olsen-P distribution in the soil profile. The results indicated that Olsen-P may indeed leach in Chernozemic soils, especially when fallow-containing cropping systems are fertilized. It also appeared that deep rooted legumes, such as sweetclover green manure and alfalfa-bromegrass hay crops do increase Olsen-P in the subsoil, possibly through root decomposition in situ or some other mechanism

Effectiveness of chemical seed treatments in improving the agronomic performance of cereal crops derived from Fusarium-infected seed lots

Non-Peer Reviewe

Effects of tillage systems and crop rotations on the economics of spring wheat, winter wheat, flax and field peas for a thin Black soil at Indian Head

Non-Peer ReviewedThe long term viability and profitability of agriculture in western Canada is dependent on our ability to maintain or enhance the production potential of the soil. The current problems associated with wind and water erosion and the widespread use of soil degradative cultural practices threaten the long term sustainability of dryland crop production. The adoption of new soil conserving production systems requires that they be profitable in the short and long term. This paper discusses the economic performance of zero, minimum and conventional tillage management using three different crop rotations in the thin Black Soil Zone of east central Saskatchewan. All inputs were costed according to local prices quoted at the time of use. The same procedure was used for prices of commodities. The production costs for flax, spring wheat, and field peas grown on stubble were similar for all three tillage systems. The production costs for spring wheat grown on fallow was higher under zero till than either minimum or conventional tillage. Given similar production costs and higher yields for crops grown on stubble under zero and minimum tillage management, these production systems were more profitable than the traditional conventional tillage production system

Effects of tillage systems and crop rotations on soil water conservation, seedling establishment and crop production of a thin Black soil at Indian Head

Non-Peer ReviewedThe long term sustainability of agriculture for much of western Canada is dependent on the development of economically viable crop production systems that alleviate wind and water erosion. The systems required must be capable of making full use of the benefits of surface residues and standing stubble. A study was initiated in 1986 at Indian Head to examine the interactions of tillage systems and crop rotations on soil water conservation, soil characteristics, seedling establishment, crop production, plant diseases, weed populations, and production economics. Three four year rotations were then superimposed on the three tillage systems. Spring soil water under stubble conditions was significantly greater for the zero and minimum tillage than conventional tillage system for the 0-60 and 0-120 cm soil layer. Under fallow conditions, soil water conserved was similar for all three tillage systems. Seedling establishment, as measured by the number of plants emerged per meter square was similar for all crops and tillage systems. Plant development in spring wheat, as measured by Haun stage was not affected by tillage system. This implies that the perceived differences in soil temperature at seeding depth between the various tillage systems did not significantly delay plant emergence under zero and minimum tillage. Tillage system had a significant effect on grain production. Zero and minimum tillage out-yielded conventional tillage by 22 % for flax, 20 % for spring wheat on stubble and 8 % for field peas. There was no difference between tillage systems for winter wheat