Influence of formulation of elemental S fertilizer on yield, quality, and S uptake of canola seed

Non-Peer Reviewe

Long-term straw management and N fertilizer rate effects on crop yield, N uptake and N balance sheet in a Gray Luvisol

Non-Peer ReviewedA field experiment with barley monoculture (1983-1996), and wheat/barley-canola-triticale-pea rotation (1997-2009) was conducted on a Gray Luvisol [Typic Haplocryalf] loam soil at Breton, Alberta, to assess the influence of straw management (straw removed [SRem] and straw retained [SRet]), N fertilizer rate (0, 25, 50 and 75 kg N ha-1) and N source (urea and polymer-coated urea [called ESN]) under conventional tillage on seed yield, straw yield, total N uptake in seed + straw and N balance sheet. On the average, SRet produced greater seed yield (by 102 kg ha-1), straw yield (by 196 kg ha-1) and total N uptake (by 3.7 kg N ha-1) in the 1997-2009 period for both N sources. There was a considerable increase in yield and total N uptake up to 75 kg N ha-1 rate. The ESN was superior to urea in increasing seed yield (by 109 kg ha-1), straw yield (by 80 kg ha-1) and total N uptake (by 2.4 kg N ha-1) in the 1983-1996 period (mainly at the 25 and 50 kg N ha-1 rates). The N balance sheets over the 1983-2009 study duration indicated large amounts of applied N unaccounted for, ranging from 740 to 1518 kg N ha-1, suggesting a great potential for N loss from the soil-plant system through denitrification and/or nitrate leaching, and from the soil mineral N pool by N immobilization. In conclusion, the findings suggest that longterm retention of crop residue may gradually improve soil productivity

Long-term straw management and N fertilizer rate effects on crop yield, N uptake and N balance sheet in a Black Chernozem

Non-Peer ReviewedA field experiment with barley monoculture (1983-1996), and wheat/barley-canola-triticale-pea rotation (1997-2009) was conducted on a Black Chernozem [Albic Argicryoll] silty clay loam at Ellerslie, Alberta, to assess the influence of straw management (straw removed [SRem] and straw retained [SRet]), N fertilizer rate (0, 25, 50 and 75 kg N ha-1) and N source (urea and polymercoated urea [called ESN]) under conventional tillage on seed yield, straw yield, total N uptake in seed + straw and N balance sheet. On the average, SRet produced greater seed yield (by 205-220 kg ha-1), straw yield (by 154-160 kg ha-1) and total N uptake (by 5.2 kg N ha-1) than SRem in almost all cases in both periods for both N sources. There was a considerable increase in yield and total N uptake up to 75 kg N ha-1 rate. Urea produced greater straw yield (by 95 kg ha-1) and total N uptake (by 3.3 kg N ha-1) than ESN in the 1983-1996 period. The N balance sheets over the 1983-2009 study duration indicated large amounts of applied N unaccounted for ranging from 696 to 1334 kg N ha-1, suggesting a great potential for N loss from the soil-plant system through denitrification and/or nitrate leaching, and from the soil mineral N pool by N immobilization. In conclusion, the findings suggest that long-term retention of crop residue may gradually improve soil productivity

Long-term straw management and N fertilizer rate effects on soil organic C and N, and some chemical properties in a Black Chernozem

Non-Peer Reviewe

Long-term straw management and N fertilizer rate effects on soil organic C and N, and some chemical properties in a Gray Luvisol

Non-Peer Reviewe

Effects of simulated erosion and amendments on grain yield and quality of wheat

Non-Peer ReviewedField experiments were conducted in 1991 at Josephburg (Black Chernozem soil) and Cooking Lake (Gray Luvisol soil), Alberta, Canada, to determine the influence of depth of erosion (simulated-erosion approach by artificially removing the topsoil) and amendments on grain yield, protein concentration and thousand kernel weight (TKW) of hard-red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Roblin). There were five erosion levels (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm) and four amendments (control, addition of 5 cm of topsoil, addition of fertilizer at 100 kg N/ha and 20 kg P/ha, and cattle manure at 75 Mg/ha on a dry basis). Yield reduction due to topsoil removal was a function of nutrient loss. The applications of fertilizer N and P, and cattle manure improved yield substantially and reduced the impact of yield loss due to erosion. Return of 5 cm of topsoil to the plots made the rate of yield loss an independent function of erosion. At both sites, protein concentration in wheat grain was influenced by the erosion level imposed and the kind of amendment used. The protein concentration at Josephburg decreased from 141 g/kg in the non-eroded treatment to 124 g/kg in the 20-cm erosion treatment. In the same order, the values for the Cooking lake site were 132 and 123 g/kg, respectively. The application of commercial fertilizers at Josephburg resulted in the highest protein concentration (153 g/kg). At both sites, TKW decreased with increasing depth of soil erosion. At Cooking Lake, all amendments produced heavier seeds than the control plots. In conclusion, the productivity of artificially-eroded soil was mostly a function of nutrient removal. The productivity and quality of wheat was partially restored by using either fertilizer or organic amendments