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Evaluation of Long Term No-till Effects on Soil Fertility

The adoption of no-till seeding systems in western Canada has been driven by a variety of factors, moisture conservation and economic efficiency likely the major ones. This project was conducted to evaluate whether or not the conversion of fields to no-till has been shown to increase soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, as well as increasing soil water use efficiency by crops.

IPNI-2003-CAN-SK36

Overview Related Article
09 May 2003

Methodology

    This project will involve three separate projects:
    1. Nitrogen response in flax, canary seed and oat: Effects of long-term direct seeding.
      • To determine the response to nitrogen as a function of long-term and short-term direct seeding in canary seed, oat and flax.
      • Randomized Complete Block Design with one replicates. Total of 66 plots (11x2x3)
      • Treatments: Factor #1: Rate of nitrogen (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 lbs N/ac) using urea; Factor #2: Long term vs short term zero tillage field .
      • All treatments will receive MAP seed placed @ 27 lb P2O5/A, and a blanked broadcast application of potassium sulphate.
      • Data to be collected: Pre-seeding soil samples, crop emergence, grain yield and seed weight.

    2. P response in wheat and field pea in long-term vs short term zero-tillage land.
      • To determine the phosphorus response in spring wheat and field pea.
      • Randomized Complete Block Design with one replicates. Total of 40 plots (10x2x2)
      • Treatments: Factor #1: Rate of phosphorus (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 lbs P2O5/ac) using MAP; Factor #2: Long term vs short term zero tillage field; Factor #3: Crop (field pea and spring wheat).
      • All treatments will receive a blanked broadcast application of potassium sulphate.
      • Data to be collected: Pre-seeding soil samples, crop emergence, grain yield, grain protein and seed weight.

    3. The impact of long-term crop management on nitrogen management in spring wheat.
      • To determine if post-seeding applications of nitrogen fertilizers involving surface dribble bands of UAN influenced by previous crop management, in this case a long-term vs a short term no-till production system due to differences in the nitrogen releasing power of the soil.
      • Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates. Total of 48 plots (8 tmts x 3 reps x 2 cropping conditions).
      • Treatments: N management treatments

        • 1. Check (no N except for the N with the P)
        2. Mid-row band at seeding (84 kg N /ha)
        3. 1-1.5 leaf Stage - 84 kg N/ha using UAN surface dribble
        4. 3 - 3.5 leaf stage - 84 kg N/ha using UAN surface dribble
        5. 5 - 5.5 leaf stage - 84 kg N/ha using UAN surface dribble
        6. Starter N (28 kg N/ha) at seeding using a mid-row band followed by 56 kg N/ha at the 1 - 1.5 leaf stage.
        7. Starter N (28 kg N/ha) at seeding using a mid-row band followed by 56 kg N/ha at the 3 - 3.5 leaf stage.
        8. Starter N (28 kg N/ha) at seeding using a mid-row band followed by 56 kg N/ha at the 3 - 3.5 leaf stage.
      • - MAP will be applied a 27 lb P2O5/A, seed placed; Blanket application of K2SO4 (potassium sulfate) 20 kg S/ha equivalent.
      • - Data to be collected: Pre-seeding soil samples, crop emergence, grain yield, flag leaf N and P content and grain protein.