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
10 Apr 2001
Justification
- Prices for most major crops have been falling while input costs have been increasing, leading to decreasing margins for production. Producers have attempted to counter this trend by increasing farm size, turning to off-farm income and attempting to increase productivity and decrease the cost of production. An alternative, long-term approach could be to increase the value of crops by segregating them from competing products based on their higher functional and nutritional quality. Historically, bread-making quality has been a major marketing point for Canadian HRS wheat with marketability and price of the crop increased with high protein content. Nutritional content of the crops has largely been ignored, although an estimated 40% of the world=s population has micronutrient deficiencies and this is increasing worldwide, in spite of the improved caloric supply provided through the AGreen Revolution@. The Great Plains region is well-positioned to provide crops with enhanced mineral nutrient content, as fertility of the Great Plains soils is generally high relative to our international competitors. High-nutrient crops could be produced with little change in farming practices. Information is needed on the current mineral nutrient status of crops, variability due to season and location, and the impact of various management practices on nutrient content and functional quality.
In addition to information related to nutritional quality, current information is needed on the nutrient removal from our soils using current and proposed cropping systems. 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. Adoption of organic farming systems may also have a large impact on nutrient balance, which must be addressed for long-term sustainability of the system.