Evaluation of seed placed fertilizer rates
Questions that now remain unanswered are urea impacts on calcareous soils and the role that ammonium sulphate might play in various mixes with urea and what the safe rates of combined N,P,K and S fertilizers might be.
IPNI-1995-CAN-SK13
30 Aug 2001
Methodology
- This work will be done entirely in the growth chamber. We have developed a technique using flats rather than pots and involving no watering after the seed and fertilizer have been applied. A thick moist peat cover is utilized to prevent evaporation so that watering is not required for germination and emergence. These experiments can be completed in about three weeks time because the plants are only taken to the stage where effective germination and emergence and plant establishment can be determined.
Appropriate soil samples will be collected including a range of texture and organic matter and specifically for Objective 1 including a Yorkton loam calcareous soil from eastern Saskatchewan.
The test crops will be wheat, canola and peas. We have in place approximately $11,000 of research support from the Canola Council of Canada, so canola must play a major role in this work.
Nitrogen rates will be 0, 20, 40 and 80 lbs N/acre calculated on the basis of a 6-inch row spacing. Urea and ammonium sulphate combinations will be used to determine the effect of ammonium sulphate.
Monoammonium phosphate and potassium chloride will be utilized in single treatments to determine the single effect of the individual nutrients and then in combined treatments with nitrogen.
Mr. Paul Krug, who has soil survey experience and has experience conducting these type of growth chamber experiments, will be hired on a part time basis to complete the work. The work will begin in June and we hope to be completed by the end of calendar 1995. However, as in any true research project, we must be prepared to let the preliminary experiments direct our future efforts. The objective will be to have sufficient information in hand by November 15 to allow a draft document to be prepared for the Saskatchewan Advisory Fertilizer Subcouncil for modification of the seedplaced bulletin to include nutrients other than nitrogen.