Agronomic and Economic Assessment of Variable Rate
Determine the agronomic information required to choose the optimum nutrient rates and assess the economic the benefits of variable rate fertilization.
IPNI-1995-CAN-SK17
30 Mar 1998
1997 Annual Interpretive Summary
Agronomic and Economic Assessment of Variable Rate Fertilization, 1997
The potential for variable rate fertilizer application in the rolling landscapes of prairie soils is great. Topography, because of its effect on moisture re-distribution, has a major impact on crop productivity. After two years, this study has demonstrated that landscape can readily separated into management units based on slope position and that slope positions respond differently to N and P. But the response is complicated. Canola has consistently responded to increasing N in the lower slope soils, but wheat has not. Similarly, different response to applied P has also been observed. Lower slope soils required twice the recommended P rate for wheat and half the recommended rate for canola. The potential for variable rate application is great, but the challenge in predicting crop response in a given year is also great. SK-17