Agricultural humic acid products have the potential to increase crop yields by helping plants take up nutrients more easily through the promotion of soil microbial activity. Humic acids can also stabilize soil structure in compacted soils, increasing water holding capacity while preventing erosion. There are numerous humic products available in Alberta that can be applied as either a granular or liquid soil amendment. Granular humalite is usually applied in-furrow at seeding. This research trial investigates whether humalite application will boost crop yields and grain quality in a dry growing season in Northern Alberta’s Peace Region. This small plot trial studies the effect of a granular humic product on the performance of canola and oats in heavy clay soils. Humalite was applied in furrow at a rate between 0-125 lb/ac. The crop varieties used in the trial were CS 3300 canola and AC Morgan oats.
This study aims to report significant findings in yellow pea, wheat and canola yield, test weight, protein content in wheat as well as oil content in canola seed obtained from intercrop systems fed under various percentages of N fertilizer rates in comparison to monocrop yields of these cash crops fed at 100% of N fertilizer rate. Moreover, weed cover is also evaluated in order to observe if more weeds are found under intercrop compared to monocrop systems and how this can be affected under different N rates.
Companion cropping is the practice of growing a forage crop alongside a grain crop to optimize land-use efficiency so that a field can be used for hay or as a pasture after the main crop is harvested. Using small plots on a research farm in North Star, AB, this trial aims to determine which of three species of annual clover (White Clover, Crimson Clover, or Subterranean Clover) grown alongside a field crop (CWRS wheat or canola). The clovers are either sown by a disc drill or broadcast over the plot, therefore revealing which seeding method will yield better results for companion cropping.
Comparing the effects of different microbial seed inoculants on canola (CS 2600 CR-T) crop productivity and soil health:
Ignite L
BioniQ
Control group (no seed treatment)
In collaboration with the Peace Region Living Lab project, we are demonstrating how different cropping systems affect growth, yield, soil health and weed control to see which BMP strategies could be successful in the Peace Region.
Objectives:
1. To build off previous research in the peace and to further identify which cereal or oilseed crop performs best with the most successful legume crops currently grown in the Peace region (field peas). Economic analysis will consider crop yield, market price, input costs, labor, and seed separation.
2. To investigate the optimum amount of N fertilizer required for intercrops in the Peace region.
3. To evaluate weed control, fertility, soil health and economics.
In collaboration with the Peace Region Living Lab project, we are demonstrating how different cropping systems affect growth, yield, soil health and weed control to see which BMP strategies could be successful in the Peace Region.
Our companion cropping trial involves seeding three different types of annual clover with either canola or wheat:
- Crimson clover
- White clover
- Subterranean clover
Objectives:
1. Investigate if the establishment and growth of annual clover species sown previously to main cash crops such as wheat and canola.
2. Determine which method provides the best establishment of both annual clover species and cash crop: seed drill or broadcast.
3. To evaluate weed control, fertility, soil health and economics.
Objective: investigate the effects of allelopathic cover crop mixes on weed counts, species diversity, and cash crop yield in rotation years following either roller-crimping or incorporation of the cover crops.
Allelopathic cover crops:
- Sunflower
- Rye
- Hairy vetch
- Annual ryegrass
Objectives:
• Determine the impact of this cropping system on soil drainage and water holding capacity
• Provide evidence to producers that spring sown cover crops aid to increase water availability in the soil
• Encourage adoption of agricultural sustainable practices and build resiliency to climate change side effects such as flooding and drought
This project was made possible by funding from RDAR (Results Driven Agriculture Research).
Testing of Taurus’s Premium Polysulphate, Synchro and Crystal Green products on canola performance and yield.
Objective: To determine the long-term impact of HumaTerra Regenerative Ag microbial bio-inoculants (H-Start products) on soil and crop agronomic parameters as compared to conventional fertility regimes.
This trial will:
- Demonstrate the effects of furrow applying the H-Start pelletized microbial soil bio-inoculants at seeding on a range of agronomic parameters like soil health/structure, crop yield, health and quality.
- Demonstrate the effects of applying the H-Start pelletized microbial soil bio-inoculants compared to a typical fertilizer application at reduced (75%) and full (100%) recommended rates.
- Test the use of new biological /soil DNA scalable methods in combination with physical/chemical analyses of the soil to assess the evolution of the health, ecological and sustainability parameters and functions of the soil.