Assessing Nutrient Content of Crops and Nutrient Removal as Affected by Management Practices
A study to identify mineral nutrient removal in the harvested portion of crops grown in western Canada.
IPNI-2001-CAN-MB14
18 Feb 2003
2002 Annual Interpretive Summary
Assessing Nutrient Content of Crops and Nutrient Removal as Affected by Management Practices, 2002
Current information on the nutrient removal from western Canadian soils using existing and proposed cropping systems is limited. Long-term nutrient depletion could have important negative impacts on soil productivity and long-term sustainability. Changes in farming practices over the past decade have influenced both yield potential and nutrient cycling, so past information on nutrient removal may not reflect the current situation. A study was initiated to identify mineral nutrient removal in the harvested portion of crops, to determine the impact of management practices on nutritional value and nutrient removal, and to identify management practices that can be used to optimize economic yield, functional food quality, and nutrient content of crops grown in western Canada.
Nutrient analysis has been completed on samples from a range of studies evaluating nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) management. Macronutrient application influenced the concentration of certain other nutrients. For example, application of N fertilizer tended to reduce concentration of copper (Cu) in wheat grown on soils low in Cu, but increased concentration and uptake of zinc (Zn) and calcium (Ca) in wheat grain on two soil types. Phosphorus fertilizer application reduced the measured wheat grain concentration of Zn. As has been observed in other studies, wheat grain Zn concentration decreased and cadmium (Cd) concentration increased with application of monoammonium phosphate fertilizer. Understanding the impact of nutrient management on food quality will continue to become an important consideration of best management practices. MB-14