Cameron, D.R.

Read, D.W.L.

English

University of Saskatchewan Research Archive

- 142 -RESPONSE OF WHEAT TO FERTILIZER IN 1HE SOUTH WEST D. W. L·. Read & D. R~ Cameron Fertilizer tests have been carried out on farmer's fields throughout the southwest for many years. Since 1967, incremental rates of N and P have been used on the basis for all tests. Other treatments have been added occasionally. These tests have been carried out at 6 to 15 sites for a year and up until 1972 on both stubble and fallow, since then until 1978 tests were only on fallow. Sites covered a range of soils from sandy loam to heavy clay. At all sites, three of four soil samples were taken to a depth of 120 em at seeding time. These were analyzed for available moisture, N03-N, NH4-N, P for each of the depths 0-15, 15-30, 30-60, 60-90 and 90-120 em. The fertilizer tests were rod row tests with 4 rows per plot and 4 replicates. Rainfall was recorded near each test area. Table 1 and 2 show the average check yield and the increase obtained from different rates of fertilizer on fallow and stubble. Table 1. Average check yield and yield increase from fertilizer on fallow - 1967-77 (kg/ha) (Rainfall 0-15+ em) Fertilizer rate Available soil moisture at seeding (em) kg/ha N - P2o5 0-15+ 0-10 10-15 15+ Check 0-0 1397 1275 1492 1385 Increase from 15-10 262 137 337 268 45-20 262 190 352 229 10-0 36 19 22 56 10-10 171 106 201 181 10-15 205 118 254 ·211 10-20 227 127 287 232 10-40 295 180 376 292 Number of tests included 94 21 32 41 .... /2 - 143 -Table 2. Change check yield and yield increase from fertilizer on stubble 1967-1971 (kg/ha) (Rainfall 0-15+ em) Fertilizer rate . Available soil moisture. at seeding (em.) kg/ha N - P2o5 0-15+ 0-10 10-15 15+ check 0-0 719 632 826 775 Increase from 4-20 106 111 138 53 15-20 208 151 322 187 45-20 403 261 541 538 60-20 446 296 597 581 30-20 332 230 469 381 30-0 233 146 333 295 Number of tests included 59 29 17 13 Figures 1 and 2 show the same information but include the maximum and mini-mum yields on yield increases obtained for each of the moisture levels. On the average on fallow there was little profit in increasing the nitrogen fertilizer beyond 15 kg/ha under any of the moisture conditions at seeding time. There is a trend toward increased response to N as the moisture increases to 15 em of available but a decrease with greater amounts of water. There is some increase in yield from increased ratep of P2o5 but probably not economical. The effect of spring moisture on increased yield is surprisingly small. This is due to the fact that often the growing season rainfall following a dry spring is above average and a wet spring may be followed by a dry summer. On the average, on stubble, there was an increase in yield by increasing nitrogen up to 45 kg/ha but little further benefit from applying 60 kg/ha. As with fallow the increase with increasing soil moisture at seeding is small, 300 kg increase with 60-20 when the moisture increased from o-io to 10-15 em and generally a decrease with larger amounts of soil moisture. My conclusions from this data is that on the average, there is little response to nitrogen on fallow and not much advantage in increasing the phosphorus beyond 20 to kg/ha~ ·;On stubble there was little increased yield by increasing the nitrogen beyond 45 kg/ha at any spring moisture levels. These results are based on tests conducted in Southwestern Saskatchewan and apply only to the particular conditions during the year when tests were conducted. In no way is it intended to criticize results from other areas be-cause each area has different conditions. It does, I think form a basis for not completely accepting unquestioningly all recommendations from other areas for application in the South west. 0 .c 2500 :;, 2000 ..:><:: "0 (1) 1500 >= "0 (1) ~ 1000 (1) .... u c "0 c 0 >-500 -500 Check Yield and Increase over Check from Fertilizer for Wheat on Fallow 1967 - 1977. ( Rainfall = 0 -15 +em) Mean I I I I I I I -+-1 I I I I I I I I _L I I I I I I I I I I I -r-1 I I I Check 15-20 45-20 10-20 10-40 ! I I I -r·-l---->--t H2 0 = 15 + -·--- .. ·-· ---·-- - -· --·-- .. --Check Yield and Increase over Check from Fertilizer for Wheat on Stubble 1500 1967- 1977. ( Rainfall 0-15+cm) I ---- Check I -·- 4-20 I I ----- 15-20 I I I ••••.••• 45-20 I I I I --- 60-20 I " I I I I I 0 I . I I .c I I I I 6, 1000 I I I I ~ .. I I I I I I I I I 1:J I I I Cl> I I ...,.- I I I >- I I -r Mean I I 1:J I I I I Cl> I Ill I -~- I . . 0 +T I +T Cl> I I I-' .... 500 +T I I +--0 I • VI c I I . I I I I I . . 1:J I . I c I I . I . I 0 I I . . . I "0 I I I I . I Cl> _L >= -- I T I I I 0 -100 I I -200 Hp • 0-15+ em Hp • 0-IOcm H20 • 10 -15cm Hp=t5+ 

Response of wheat to fertilizer in the southwest

eCommons@USASK

https://harvest.usask.ca/bitstream/10388/11144/1/D.W.L.%20Read%20and%20D.R%20Cameron%2c%201979.pdf

Response of wheat to fertilizer in the southwest

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

University of Saskatchewan Research Archive

eCommons@USASK