The Influence of Fertilizer Placement on Crop and Weed Ecology in Direct-seeding Systems
Assess the impact of fertilizer placement on weeds in no-till seeding systems.
IPNI-1996-CAN-MB9
01 Mar 2000
1999 Annual Interpretive Summary
The Influence of Fertilizer Placement on Crop and Weed Ecology in Direct-Seeding Systems, 1999
The rapid expansion of no-till seeding in western Canada has increased demand for information on how time of fertilizer application and placement methods influence the yield response of both wheat and canola. In addition, the amount of soil disturbance associated with fertilizer application and seeding can have a profound effect on the stimulation of weed growth and resulting crop competition. Results from the project indicate that little difference in final grain yield was observed whether fertilizer N was fall or spring band applied. However, sideband application of N at wide (12 inch) row spacing was found to have a detrimental effect on the establishment of both wheat and canola and the yield of wheat at two of the three trial locations. This research will be concluded in 2000.
An associated project with this study evaluated the impact of P and K placement on wheat and flax yield response and competitive ability with weeds. Side band application of P and K fertilizer resulted in higher wheat and flax yields and lower wild oat growth and dockage when compared with seed row application. This advantage of side band application indicates that crop response to P and K fertilizer placed in a narrow band with the seed can limit its competitive ability with weeds early in the growing season. Both field and greenhouse studies revealed that wild oat had a much greater ability to take up both P and K than did wheat or flax. This weed response to fertilizer has resulted in additional research which will evaluate how various weed species respond to both specific nutrients and how these nutrients are applied. MB-09