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.
Past studies in the Peace Region have demonstrated that higher seeding rates lead to significantly higher yield and test weights in CWRS wheat. However, crops grown at the highest seeding rates (37 seeds foot-2) also had significantly lower protein content. Thus, we wish to evaluate more commonly grown varieties grown in the Peace region such as AAC Viewfield and AAC Brandon.
While yield production of spring wheat is improved by intensified agricultural strategies and novel genetic varieties, optimal soil N release and precise N uptake by crops is still an ambiguous question. This experiment focuses on exploring N-enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEF) set at different rates and banded at different development stages. The goal is to observe if a certain EEF can improve overall yield of CWRS wheat.
Demonstration of spring triticale varieties compared to commonly grown cereal crops:
Gunner
Flex 719
Hybrid Surge
Triple Crown Mix
Diverse Mix
Surge
CS Camden oats
CDC Austenson barley
Compare the growth and performance of CDC Austenson barley treated with Nutrient Plus through different methods:
Seed treatment
In-furrow application at seeding
Foliar application
Seed treatment + in-furrow
Seed treatment + in-furrow + foliar application
No Nutrient Plus treatment
Regional variety trials provide locally-based insight into which crops are most capable of succeeding in the Peace region. During field tours, producers are offered the opportunity to observe on-site characteristics such as emergence, height, disease rates, and maturity. Harvest characteristics including yield, test weight, and protein content are compared in the fall.
These milling oat varieties were chosen for the 2024 trial by a survey completed by producers in the County of Northern Lights:
AC Morgan
AAC Douglas
CS Camden
CDC Arborg
Kalio
Kyron
Regional variety trials provide locally-based insight into which crops are most capable of succeeding in the Peace region. During field tours, producers are offered the opportunity to observe on-site characteristics such as emergence, height, disease rates, and maturity. Harvest characteristics including yield, test weight, and protein content are compared in the fall.
These CPS wheat varieties were chosen for the 2024 trial by a survey completed by producers in the County of Northern Lights:
CS Accelerate
AAC Goodwin
AAC Penhold
AAC Foray
AAC Rimbey
AAC Westlock
Regional variety trials provide locally-based insight into which crops are most capable of succeeding in the Peace region. During field tours, producers are offered the opportunity to observe on-site characteristics such as emergence, height, disease rates, and maturity. Harvest characteristics including yield, test weight, and protein content are compared in the fall.
These CWRS wheat varieties were chosen for the 2024 trial by a survey completed by producers in the County of Northern Lights:
AAC Brandon
AAC Viewfield
AAC Wheatland
AAC Hodge
AC Stettler
CS Tracker
Performance and yield potential of popular malt barley varieties grown in Northern Alberta:
- CDC Copeland
- CDC Churchill
- CDC Bow
- CDC Fraser
- AAC Connect
- AC Metcalfe
- AAC Synergy
Performance and yield potential of popular wheat varieties grown in Northern Alberta:
- CWRS Wheat
- AAC Wheatland VB
- AAC Starbuck VB
- CDC SK Rush
- CDC Silas
- AAC Brandon
- AAC Viewfield
- CDC Landmark VB
- AAC Hockley
- CS Tracker
- AAC Hodge VB
- CPS Wheat
- AAC Foray VB
- AAC Goodwin
- AAC Penhold
- CS Accelerate
- AAC Crossfield
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.
This trial will explore the practice of seeding ryegrass, fall rye, winter wheat and winter triticale into a newly seeded wheat crop. We will use GPS and RTK to align the drills so that the winter crops are seeded mid row. We will also look at 2 seeding rates for the winter crop. The light rate should still improve soil health but not steal moisture and nutrients from the following crop. The heavier seeding rate should improve soil health and still provide a strong crop the next year.
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.