Strategies for Improving the Crop Safety and Efficiency of Starter Fertilizer for Saskatchewan Crops
Crops were planted in flats of soil are prepared to simulate a seed-bed and a low-disturbance opener configuration (10% seed bed utilization). Eleven commonly grown Saskatchewan crops (wheat, barley, canary seed, flax, canola, mustard, field pea, chickpea, drybean, alfalfa, brome grass), for which tolerance to regular seed-placed P fertilization was determined in a previous 1 year ADF project, will be placed in the furrows in the soil. The treatment comparisons were be conventional 12-51-0 fertilizer versus the a polymer coated controlled release P fertilizer. Eight different rates of fertilizer were used, and treatments were be replicated six times under two different moisture regimes: high evaporative loss and low evaporative loss. Parameters measured will be emergence counts, plant biomass after one month, and phosphorus uptake. Supply rates of P will also be measured using PRS probes. Combinations of P fertilizer alone and with 15 kg K2O/ha placed in the seed-row will be evaluated to determine the tolerance and response of the crops to both P and K in the seed-row.
IPNI-2006-CAN-SK37
Methodology
A series of controlled environment experiments is planned in which flats of soil are prepared to simulate a seed-bed and a low-disturbance opener configuration (10% seed bed utilization) is used to prepare furrows. Eleven commonly grown Saskatchewan crops (wheat, barley, canary seed, flax, canola, mustard, field pea, chickpea, drybean, alfalfa, brome grass), for which tolerance to regular seed-placed P fertilization was determined in a previous 1 year ADF project, will be placed in the furrows. The treatment comparisons will be conventional 12-51-0 fertilizer versus the Agrium CRP controlled release P fertilizer. Eight different rates of fertilizer will be used, and treatments will be replicated at least six times under two different moisture regimes: high evaporative loss and low evaporative loss. Parameters measured will be emergence counts, plant biomass after one month, and phosphorus uptake. Supply rates of P will also be measured using PRS probes. Combinations of P fertilizer alone and with 15 kg K2O/ha placed in the seed-row will be evaluated to determine the tolerance and response of the crops to both P and K in the seed-row.
Deliverables:
Information will be obtained on the performance of a new P fertilizer product in Saskatchewan soils with Saskatchewan crops. This information, along with the data on the effect of combining P and K fertilizer together in the seed-row, will be presented in scientific conferences and papers, producer meetings, and used to update recommendations for P and K fertilization practices in the Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Fact Sheets on fertilization.
Timeline:
July 2006: Complete study with controlled release P fertilizer
October 2006: Complete study with phosphorus + potassium combinations in seed-row
December 2006: Complete data interpretation, construction of final report.