Preliminary evaluation of a novel elemental sulphur fertilizer

Non-Peer ReviewedIn 2018, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry began evaluating the agronomic performance of a novel elemental sulphur (S) fertilizer through field trials at two locations. This S fertilizer is not currently commercialized, but is intriguing because it has a mean particle size diameter of less than 20 microns and is intended to be applied as a suspension through spraying equipment, ensuring abundant S-soil contact. The purpose of the project was to compare this novel S product to ammonium sulphate. Canola was seeded into cereal stubble that had been treated with sprayed elemental S, sprayed ammonium sulphate, or banded ammonium sulphate, all applied at 0, 20, and 40 kg S/ha. The product evaluation was based on soil sulphate level changes over time using plant root simulator (PRS®) probes, S uptake by canola, and canola yield. PRS probes were able to detect treatment differences between control treatments and treatments fer tilized with sulphur, and in some cases differences between the treatments that received sulphur. There was evidence that surface-applied elemental S without incorporation was oxidizing within weeks of application. From an agronomic perspective, based on these two site-years of data, there is sufficient reason to continue and even expand the current work in future years

Optimizing the Productivity and Resiliency of Cropping Systems in the Major Ecozones on the Canadian Prairies

Non-Peer ReviewedAgriculture faces grand challenges of meeting growing food demands and increasing profitability while reducing environmental impacts. A systems approach is required to design and manage cropping systems to meet the goal of agricultural sustainability under climate change. A 4-year rotation study was established in 2018 at seven sites across the Canadian Prairies, including Beaverlodge, Lacombe, and Lethbridge, AB; Melfort, Scott, and Swift Current, SK; and Carman MB. The objective of this project is to develop resilient cropping systems for different ecozones on the Canadian Prairies. This study tested six cropping systems consisting of 1) conventional cropping system (Control), 2) pulse- or oilseed-intensified cropping system (POS), 3) diversified cropping system (DS), 4) market-driven cropping system (MS), 5) high risk and high reward cropping system (HRHRS), and 6) green-manure incorporated soil-health focused cropping system (GMS). Each cropping system varies slightly among experimental sites (ecozones) to mimic local farming practices. Cropping system indicators such as yield, resource use efficiency, soil health, profitability, environmental impact, resiliency, and sustainability will be fully assessed at the end of rotations. The preliminary results from the first 2 years indicated that there was no single cropping system suitable for all study ecozones although POS had an above-average yield and stability among the six cropping systems. We suggest that the optimal cropping system will maximize yield in the high-yielding ecozones and stabilize yields in the low-yielding ecozones. Link to Video Presentation: https://youtu.be/VsK4RNIzaZ