Soils and Crops Workshop
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The annual Soils and Crops Workshop is a two day event offering updates on current research being conducted in the areas of soils, crops and economics by researchers, faculty and graduate students from across western Canada.
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Item Soybean Phenology in the Canadian Prairies(2022-03-08) Ort, Nathaniel W. W.; Morrison, Malcolm J.; McAndrew, David; Cober, Elroy R.; Lawley, Yvonne E.The expansion of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production onto the Canadian Prairies has resulted in new environmental constraints that affect soybean phenology and seed yield. This study examined these factors for ten soybean cultivars differing in maturity group (MG) rating from 000.9 to 1.3 in southern Manitoba (MB) and eastern Ontario (ON). Detailed climate and phenological data collected at both locations were used to explore the environmental factors and differences in measurements among MG and between locations. In MB more time was spent in vegetative growth and less time in flower and seed development than in ON. The longer vegetative growth stage in MB resulted in more main stem leaves at flowering than were in ON. In MB seed yield was positively correlated with precipitation in all growth stages and had a strong correlation with precipitation during reproductive development. In ON increasingly warmer temperature during reproductive development had the greatest influence on seed yield. This study is a baseline for soybean phenology, seed yield, and seed quality components for early MG in the Canadian Prairies and will aid in optimizing soybean breeding programs and production in this northern growing environment.Item Hybrid Fall Rye in Canada(2022-03-08) Penner, NathanHybrid fall rye was introduced into Western Canadian cropping systems in 2015. It brought growers and end users new characteristics and potential. Early agronomy was either adapted from traditional rye production or from European experiences. This presentation will focus on some of the advancements since 2015. It will look at the current and potential fit of hybrid fall rye varieties in Western Canada as well as present key agronomic objectives developed for the prairies.Item On-farm comparison of soil carbon storage and associated organic matter composition of Chernozemic profiles in southern Alberta, Canada(2022-03-08) Romero, Carlos M.; Cornish, Kimberley; Nichols, Kris A.; Hazendonk, Paul; Gorzelak, Monika M.Grassland soils are of outstanding importance and provide various ecosystem services that regulate, support, and underpin Canadian agriculture. Prairie ecosystems, however, are currently facing rapid changes in climate/land use that are likely to be accelerated in the coming decades. These alterations are expected to affect their potential to sequester soil organic carbon (SOC), the largest terrestrial C sink. Here, we characterized soil organic matter (SOM) composition along a gradient of land use intensity in a semi-arid climate of southern Alberta, Canada. Soil profiles (0-75 cm) were collected from irrigated croplands (CRP), rotationally grazed (RGZ), and adaptive multi-paddock (AMP) systems and surveyed using elemental and solid-state cross-polarization with magic angle spinning (CPMAS) 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses. Results indicated that SOC stocks averaged 64.6, 89.1, and 93.4 Mg C ha-1 in CRP, RGZ, and AMP, respectively, with C/N ratios decreasing in the order AMP > RGZ > CRP. SOM roughly consisted of 38% O-alkyl-C, 26% alkyl-C, 22% aromatic-C, and 14% carboxyl-C. SOM aromaticity, measured by the aromaticity index, decreased with depth (P < 0.05) and was greater for AMP (26.2%) than RGZ (24.9%) or CRP (24.7%). By contrast, the alkyl-C/O-alkyl-C ratio, a proxy of SOM decomposability, increased with depth (P < 0.05) and was higher for CRP and RGZ (0.70) than AMP (0.67). Overall, SOM became enriched of plant-derived constituents and was depleted by more decomposed, humified substances in AMP relative to CRP or RGZ. SOM composition is strongly affected by land use intensity, and such changes are important drivers controlling SOC accretion in grassland soils.Item Lodging: The great fall of barley(2022-03-08) Taylor, Michael; Ye, S.; Ferre, C.; Yang, X.; Pradier, P-L.; Kochian, L.V.; Noble, S.; Feurtado, J.A.; Beattie, A.D.Lodging, the permanent displacement of shoots from an upright position, causes millions of dollars in lost profits due to decreases in grain yield. In addition to yield, lodging also reduces grain quality due to increased shriveling, premature sprouting, and disease prevalence. The degree of lodging can vary from laying flat on the ground to only slight leaning, regardless of the severity – lodging leads to losses. Lodging is a complex phenomenon caused by both stem buckling and root anchorage failure and is impacted by numerous plant anatomical and morphological aspects which influence plant strength to counteract wind-induced leverage forces and reductions in soil shear strength. This study collected data for above and below ground traits to investigate which plant traits have the greatest influence on lodging resistance across 12 cultivars. Field trials assessed several above-ground plant traits, including stem internode strength, stem diameter, stem width and whole plant bending resistance. In addition, field lodging ratings were obtained from locations that experienced significant lodging. Analysis of root system architecture was accomplished by imaging roots at growth stages ranging from 3-day-old seedlings to 12-week-old mature plants using a combination of hydroponic and rhizobox (soil) based phenotyping systems. Several traits including root network solidity and seminal root angle were found to be significantly correlated with field lodging ratings. The discovery of traits underlying barley lodging resistance facilitates future marker development and gene discovery. Furthermore, assessments of these key traits at early growth stages offer the possibility for barley breeders to: (i) assess lodging resistance (standability) quickly and efficiently and (ii) avoid solely relying on field observations especially when environmental conditions are not conducive for lodging.Item Resource use efficiency of diverse cropping systems in western Canada(2022-03-08) St. Luce, Mervin; Liu, Kui; Asgedom Tedla, Haben; Bainard, Luke; Biswas, Dilip; Entz, Martin; Hernandez Ramirez, Guillermo; Hubbard, Michelle; Iheshiulo, E.; Kapiniak, Arlen; Khakbazan, Mohammad; Kubota, Hiroshi; Larney, Francis; Lasisi, Ahmed; Lemke, Reynald; Luupwayi, Newton; Peng, Gary; Lokuruge, Prabhath; Semach, Greg; Stanely, Katherine; Strydhorst, Sheri; Tidemann, Breanne; Town, JenniferA sustainable increase in grain production is vital to meet the growing global demand for food. One part of meeting this goal is efficient use of resources, including nutrients and water, especially in a changing climate. A field experiment involving six 4-year diverse crop rotations was initiated in 2018 at seven sites in western Canada (Carman, MB; Swift Current, Melfort and Scott, SK; Lethbridge, Lacombe and Beaverlodge, AB) to investigate their effects on crop production, resource use efficiency, resilience, soil health, whole-farm economics, and environmental footprint. The six cropping systems include: (1) conventional (Control), (2) pulse or oilseed-intensified (POS), (3) multiple commodities diversified (DS), (4) market-driven (MS), (5) high risk and high reward (HRHRS), and (6) green-manure incorporated soil-health focused (GMS). In this presentation, we will focus on nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency ( NFUE; estimated as annualized grain yield/N fertilizer applied), N use efficiency (NUE; annualized grain yield/available N), and precipitation use efficiency (PUE; annualized grain yield/accumulated precipitation from seeding to harvest). During the first three years, MS had the highest N fertilizer rates while the GMS, POS and DS had the lowest. Preliminary results showed that NFUE and NUE were highest for DS (234 and 62 kg grain ha-1 kg-1, respectively), and lowest for POS (70 and 31 kg grain ha-1 kg-1, respectively) and HRRS (70 and 28 kg grain ha-1 kg-1, respectively) on average across sites. For PUE across sites, it was lower for HRRS (7 kg grain ha-1 mm-1) and GMS (10 kg grain ha-1 mm-1) compared to other systems. These preliminary findings suggest that the choice of cropping system has an impact on N requirements and resource use efficiency.Item The impact of phosphorus management on the canola soil and root-associated microbiomes(2022-03-08) Liu, Mengying; Mooleki, Patrick; Schneider, Dave; Kochian, Leon V.; Helgason, Bobbi L.Canola (Brassica napus) has high phosphorus (P) demand, but its small seeds are susceptible to P fertilizer toxicity. As a result, optimizing P fertilizer management and fertility for canola can be aided by a better understanding of microbial contributions to plant P uptake. To decipher the impact of different P application strategies on canola growth and its soil and root-associated microbiome, we conducted a 2-year field experiment at Scott, SK using commercial Invigor L233P. Three rates of P (0, 35 and 65 lb P2O5 ac-1 as monoammonium phosphate; 0P, 35P and 65P) were combined with two fertilizer placements (1- and 4-inch openers; 1” and 4”) in a replicated (n=4) randomized complete block design. Bulk soil, rhizosphere soil, roots and shoots were sampled at the 5-6 leaf and peak flowering stages. Canola P uptake was higher in the 35P 1” treatment when plants at the 5-6 leaf stage but by flowering, was the greatest in the 65P 1” treatment. Plant density was consistently higher in 4” vs. 1” opener treatments at both 35P and 65P. Despite these differences, there were no differences in yield for any of the P treatments, indicating that P was not the most determining factor for canola yield in our experiment. Using amplicon-based DNA profiling, we found that differences in the bulk soil, rhizosphere soil and root communities explained 36.4% of bacterial and 17.7% of fungal community variance, and that sampling year and plant growth stage also had strong effects on the microbial communities. Soil P rate and opener width affected only the root community structure, where specific taxa (e.g., Gammaproteobacteria and Sodariomycetes) were most responsive to P application. The response of individual bacteria and fungi in the roots under different P management strategies is currently under investigation to better understand microbial contributions to plant P uptake.Item A systems approach to assessing cropping systems on the Canadian Prairies: yield and economic returns(2022-03-08) Liu, Kui; Khakbazan, Mohammad; Lasisi, Ahmed; Entz, Martin; Larney, Francis; Kubota, Hiroshi; Semach, Greg; Peng, Gary; Lokuruge Praghath; Strydhorst, Sheri; Asgedom, Haben; St. Luce, Mervin; Lemke, Reynald; Tidemann, Breanne; Hubbard, Michelle; Lupwayi, Newton; Town, Jennifer; Hernandez-Ramirez, Guillermo; Bainard, Luke; Stanely, Katherine; Lin, Sisi; Biswas, Dilip; Iheshiulo, Ekene; Curtis, Samantha; Gan, YantaiAgriculture faces grand challenges of improving productivity and profitability under climate uncertainty. A systems approach is required when designing crop systems to achieve the long-term goal of sustainability. A 4-year crop rotation study was established in 2018 at seven sites across the Canadian Prairies, including Beaverlodge, Lacombe, and Lethbridge, AB; Melfort, Scott, and Swift Current, SK; and Carman, MB. The overall objective of this project is to develop resilient cropping systems in different ecozones on the Canadian Prairies. This study tests six cropping systems consisting of 1) conventional cropping system (Control), 2) pulse- or oilseed-intensified cropping system (POS), 3) diversified cropping system (DS), 4) market-driven cropping system (MS), 5) high risk and high reward cropping system (HRHRS), and 6) green-manure incorporated soil-health focused cropping system (GMS). At the end of the 4-yr rotations, we will assess the performance of cropping systems using a suit of indicators including productivity, soil health, resource use efficiency, pest incidence, economic returns, environmental impacts, and resilience. The first 3-year preliminary results indicated that the average system yield (e.g. canola equivalent yield) for MS (2167 kg ha-1) and POS (1758 kg ha-1) were 33 and 8% higher than Control (1632 kg ha-1), respectively; while the CEY for DS (1537 kg ha-1), HRHRS (1451 kg ha-1) and GMS (1319 kg ha-1) were 6, 11, and 19% lower than Control, respectively. The net returns follow the order of MS > POS > DS > Control > GMS > HRHRS. Yield stability follows the order of GMS > POS > Control > DS > MS > HRHRS. The preliminary results suggest that an integrated approach is required to develop and assess cropping systems.Item Classification of Trifludimoxazin + Saflufenacil and Pyroxasulfone Herbicide Interaction for the Control of False Cleavers (Galium spurium) and Wild Oat (Avena Fatua)(2022-03-08) Aldridge, Kathryn; Johnson, Eric; Shirtliffe, Steve; Bertholet, Ethan; Oostlander, MarkHerbicide-resistant (HR) weeds continue to develop, requiring alternative herbicide mechanisms of action (MOA) to examine weed control. The first objective of this study was to examine the herbicide interaction between trifludimoxazin + saflufenacil (Group 14) and pyroxasulfone (Group 15) in false cleavers and wild oat. The second objective was to determine the type of herbicide interaction present, whether that be additive, synergistic, antagonistic, or no effect. This study was repeated twice for each weed species in the phytotron facility at the University of Saskatchewan. Treatments comprised of two factors (herbicide group and rate) and were applied in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replicates. The false cleaver treatments consisted of ten different rates (0.027778 – 16x, increasing in 2x increments) of BAS85100H (2:1 pre-mix of saflufenacil and trifludimoxazin (0.5, 1.125, 2.25, 4.5, 9, 18, 36, 72, 144, 288 g ai h-1) and pyroxasulfone (1.666667, 3.75, 7.5, 15, 30, 60, 120, 240, 480, 960 g ai ha-1) applied alone and as a tank-mix. The wild oat treatments consisted of nine different rates (0.125 – 32x, increasing in 2x increments) of BAS85100H (2.25, 4.5, 9, 18, 36, 72, 144, 288, 576 g ai h-1) and pyroxasulfone (7.5, 15, 30, 60, 120, 240, 480, 960, 1920 g ai ha-1) applied alone and as a tank-mix. Additional treatments included an untreated check. Herbicide efficacy ratings were taken 7, 14, and 21 days after emergence (DAE). A 3-parameter log-logistic model was selected to model each weed species’ biomass. For false cleavers, Group 14+15 had the lowest ED50, the effective dose required to reduce the biomass present by 50%, at a 0.57x rate. Group 15 had the lowest ED50 at a 0.27x rate for wild oat but was not significantly different from Group 14+15. Colby’s analysis compared the expected versus observed plant responses to classify the herbicide interactions for each weed species. A 3-parameter log-logistic model was selected for both weed species, with all model parameters being non-significant. This result indicated an additive herbicide relationship as the control for the herbicide mixture was equal to what was expected based on the efficacy of the two individual herbicide groups. Therefore, a tank-mix of Group 14+15 herbicides improves false cleavers control compared to the individual applications. Colby’s analysis suggested an additive response for wild oat; however, the response was similar to Group 15 individually, and the addition of Group 14 provided only marginal improvement in control. Results indicated that using tank-mixtures improved HR weed management for both false cleavers and wild oat.Item Quantifying Host Range in the Ralstonia solanacearum IIB-4 Clade(2022-03-08) Beutler, Jonathan; Lowe-Power, Tiffany; Norman, David; Georgoulis, Stratton; William, DarrielleBacterial wilt diseases caused by Ralstonia solanacearum are major crop production constraints of significant global concern. Ralstonia are diverse plant pathogenic bacteria with thousands of distinct lineages in four phylogenetic branches (phylotypes) of continental or archipelagic origins in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the South Pacific. The Ralstonia pathogen family has a remarkably broad host range, infecting hundreds of host species in dozens of taxonomic families, but the breadth of host range is not uniform amongst the thousands of known strains. The phylotype IIB, sequevar 4 (IIB-4) clade exhibits a particularly broad host range and has caused multiple economically important wilt outbreaks in the Americas. Here we quantified virulence and a snapshot of the IIB-4 host range using 19 non-clonal strains isolated in Florida, the Caribbean, and Latin America- a broad swath of the phylotype II ancestral range. We monitored disease progress from stem and soil-drench inoculations on four experimental hosts: tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv Moneymaker), melon (Cucumis melo cv. Sweet Granite), Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana cv. Beacon Orange), and banana (Musa acuminata cv. Dwarf Cavendish). We calculated area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) values individually for each of the 3,005 plants in the study and aggregately for each host-strain combination. Tomato plants were the most broadly susceptible: 17 strains were highly virulent, and two strains were moderately virulent. Virulence on melon plants was more variable: eleven strains were highly virulent, four strains were moderately virulent, and four strains exhibited low virulence. Virulence on Impatiens plants was also variable: twelve strains were highly virulent, four strains were moderately virulent, and three strains exhibited low virulence. Banana plants were the most broadly resistant: one strain was highly virulent, two stra ins were moderately virulent, five strains exhibited low virulence, and eleven strains were avirulent. Through concurrent phylogenetic analysis of 49 conserved Ralstonia genes, we demonstrate that closely related IIB-4 strains can exhibit considerable variation in virulence and pathogenicity on diverse hosts. Such variation points to favorable targets for further genetic screening to investigate the determinants of host-specificity traits.Item Five Agronomy Priorities for Canola(2022-03-08) Casselman, Jason; Crop Production and Innovation Team, Canola Council of Canada1. Use 4R nutrient management practices Fertilizer application practices that focus on 4R (especially "Right rate") will improve yield, reduce losses and increase profits. This is important for economic and environmental sustainability of canola. For 4R practices, see the Fertility section at canolaencyclopedia.ca. 2. Choose the best seed traits for each field Make seed decisions based on the best traits for each field. This can include disease resistance, days to maturity, pod-shatter resistance and more. To weather-proof canola, choose hybrids that provide consistent high-yield performance in various conditions and pest scenarios. Use the tool at canolaperformancetrials.ca to compare cultivars. 3. Achieve a uniform 5 to 8 plants per square foot A stand with five to eight plants per square foot can maintain the yield potential of canola. Take steps to achieve five to eight for all square feet across the field, and to have all plants at the same stage. Try the seeding rate calculator at canolacalculator.ca. 4. Identify and manage the top yield robbers Focus on the most important yield loss factors. Scout regularly to see what pests, environmental factors or mechanical issues (seed placement, 4R, etc.) cause the greatest loss for each field. For scouting and management tips, read the Diseases, Weeds and Insects chapters at canolaencyclopedia.ca. 5. Treat every seed as sacred Take time to identify all aspects of harvest and storage that can lead to yield loss. The goal is to give all seeds time to mature, then capture all of that yield and deliver it to market without spoilage. For tips on harvest timing, measuring combine loss and safe storage, please see the Harvest and Storage chapters at canolaencyclopedia.ca. For timely tips through the growing season, sign up for Canola Watch at canolawatch.org. To connect with a Canola Council of Canada agronomy specialist, find their names and contact info at canolacouncil.org/staff/.Item Improving Water Quality by Precision Application of Manure and Promising Pollutant Mitigation Options(2022-03-08) Asgedom, Haben; Schoenau, J.; Soolanayakanahally, R.; Akhter, F.; Derdall, E.; Svendsen, E.Manure production is one of the main nutrient source to crops. Statistics Canada estimated 182 million Mg of manure produced in 2006. The manure production is expected to increase as livestock operations expand. Though manure is a valuable nutrient source for crops and improves soil conditions, it could be source of nutrients and other contaminants to waterbodies transported via runoff. Field and lab experiments were initiated in 2021 at the University of Saskatchewan's Livestock Forage Center of Excellence (LFCE) near Clavet, southeast of Saskatoon and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) - Saskatoon Farm. Three fertilizer management practices (Precision rate application of solid cattle manure - PRASM, Flat rate application of solid cattle manure - FRASM, Flat rate application of anhydrous ammonia - FRAA) were applied at contrasting micro-watersheds. Twenty-seven runoff collection frames (RCF) were inst alled and in-season rainfall simulations were conducted nearby the RCF. Runoff collected from the RCF were transported to AAFC Saskatoon Farm and let pass-through amended soil columns (control, soil + solid manure / straw derived biochar, soil + gypsum). Water samples were analysed for phosphorus (dissolved organic P, soluble reactive P, total P), nitrogen (NH4-N, NO3-N), other micro and macro nutrients (K, SO4-S, Mg, Ca, Na), pH, and EC. Trace elements analysis was considered for selected treatments. Mitigation potential of fertilizer application methods, gypsum and biochar observed in the first-year experiment will be presented.Item Determination of Physiological Stress Thresholds for Improved Selection of Drought Resistant Wheat Genotypes(2022-03-08) Sharma, Gopal; Brar, Gurcharn; Knipfer, ThorstenDrought induced water stress leads to dehydration of wheat plants affecting performance and productivity. However, the underlying physiological stress thresholds remain elusive across wheat genotypes which limits our ability for drought selection. We performed our study on Superb (rated as 'drought susceptible' in terms of yield potential), Stettler and AAC Viewfield (both rated as 'drought tolerant'). Plants were grown in large cylindrical pots to minimize root growth restrictions. A drought-stress treatment was imposed at early anthesis. Over the drydown period wheat water relations were assessed by measurement of water potential at predawn and midday, leaf relative water content, and solute potential of leaf sap. This was combined with visual quantification of the onset of leaf rolling. Our data highlights that osmotic adjustment (OA) occurred in AAC Viewfield which was linked to a genotype-specific si gnature of soil moisture thresholds. In contrast, OA was absent and several soil moisture thresholds coincided in Stettler and Superb. In conclusion, our data point to genotype-specific physiological signature and water requirements to maintain hydration status.Item Revising the Crop Nutrient Uptake and Removal Guidelines for Western Canada(2022-03-08) Walley, Fran; Farrell, Rich; Issah, Gazali; Cowell, Lyle; Heard, JohnFor many years, agronomists have used the Canadian Fertilizer Institute Nutrient Uptake and Removal guidelines for estimating fertilizer requirements to match and balance crop requirements with nutrient removal. These guidelines have been revised and updated over the years with most of the revisions based on the data collected several years ago from research plots. There is a need to update the data to ensure that the guidelines reflect current crop varieties and yields, fertilizer application rates and crop management practices in farm fields. Additionally data regarding micronutrient uptake and removal is needed. Our project aims to revise crop macro- and micronutrient uptake and removal guidelines for fourteen crops grown in Western Canada, based on samples collected from commercial fields across MB, SK and AB. The project is ongoing with preliminary Year 1 results available from the 2020 and 2021 field seasons.Item Biochar and its manure-based feedstock have divergent effects on soil organic carbon and greenhouse gas emissions in croplands(2022-03-08) Gross, Cole; Bork, Edward; Carlyle, Cameron; Chang, ScottApplying organic amendments to soil can increase soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by agriculture, helping to mitigate climate change. However, it is necessary to determine which type of amendment produces the most desirable results. We conducted a 3-y field study comparing one-time additions of manure compost and its biochar derivative to a control to assess their effects on SOC and GHG emissions at ten annually cropped sites in central Alberta, Canada. Manure compost and biochar were applied at equivalent carbon rates (7 Mg ha−1) and tilled into the surface 10 cm of soil. Two years post-treatment, biochar addition increased surface (0–10 cm) SOC by 12 and 10 Mg ha-1 relative to the control and manure addition, respectively. Therefore, the biochar led to the sequestration of SOC at a rate of 2.5 Mg ha-1 y-1 relative to the control. No treatment effect on deeper (10–100 cm) or cumulative SOC was found. In 2018 and 2019, manure addition increased cumulative GHG (sum of CO2, CH4, and N2O) emissions by 33%, on average, due to greater CO2 emissions relative to both the control and biochar addition. In contrast, in 2020, biochar addition reduced cumulative GHG emissions by an average of 21% due to lower CO2 emissions relative to both the control and manure addition. Our study shows that the application of biochar, rather than its manure compost feedstock, increased surface SOC sequestration and had either no effect on (first two years) or reduced GHG emissions (year three) relative to the control. We recommend that policy and carbon sequestration initiatives focus on optimizing biochar production-application systems to fully realize the potential of biochar application as a viable climate change mitigation practice in agriculture.Item Impact of fertilizer and cropping management practices on phosphorus and nitrogen use efficiency and losses in run-off water in variable topographies of Saskatc(2022-03-08) Weiseth, Blake; Schoenau, Jeff; Elliott, JaneFor many producers, agricultural wetlands present a variety of logistical and economic challenges, resulting in the draining of certain wetlands through construction of surface ditches. Without mitigation, this may increase both the volume and nutrient load of the run-off water to the terminal collection point downstream from the point of drainage. Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) are often recommended with the goal of limiting these potential adverse impacts. However, localized variations in topography and soil characteristics are an important, yet often overlooked consideration when attempting to predict effectiveness of various site-specific BMPs. To address this knowledge gap, eight independent watersheds (i.e. basins) were identified in a single field having a common management history near Langham, Saskatchewan. In fall of 2020, surface ditches were constructed to channel water from each basin to an approved adequate outlet. Following construction, a two-year field study was initiated in spring 2021 where three BMPs including 1) post-harvest crop residue management, 2) variable-rate fertilizer application, and 3) poly-cropping of annual forages, along with a control treatment of standard farming practices were randomized throughout the eight basins. Within each basin, soil, crop, and snowmelt run-off water samples were collected from transect locations representing three unique topographic positions across the landscape including 1) upslope, 2) mid-slope, and 3) low-slope to track the relevant pools of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) at the critical soil-snowmelt run-off water interaction zone. Overall BMP performance will be discussed as well as its effectiveness in achieving its intended goal as influenced by landscape-induced differences in soil-water dynamics.Item Soil Water Depletion and Water Use Efficiency of Cereal-Pulse Rotations in Saskatchewan(2022-03-08) Paquette, Anne; Si, Bing; Schoenau, JeffIt is important to determine the water footprint and water use efficiency of different crops when developing “water smart” rotations. Introducing more drought resistant crops can help reduce soil water depletion and potentially reduce the influence of drought. This presentation covers results of a crop rotation study that started in 2021 with wheat as the first crop. Rooting depth and water use of hard red spring wheat were measured over the growing season of 2021 at sites in the Dark Brown (near Central Butte) and Black soil zones (near Langham) of Saskatchewan. Soil moisture was monitored using Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) sensors installed to a depth of 135 cm to determine soil water depletion throughout the growing season. The rooting depth and hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope abundance of the crop and soils were taken and applied to a Bayesian mixing model to determine root water uptake patterns. Additionally, the water use efficiency (WUE) and water footprint (WF) were compared at all sites. Results indicated that rooting depths, soil water storage, WUE, and WF varied between the sites relative to soil texture, EC, and soil water availability. The resulting rooting depths of the hard red spring wheat varied between 60-80 cm which is shallower than the 1.0 m rooting depth found in the literature. The site near Langham Saskatchewan had the shallowest rooting depth out of all the selected sites. It is probable that the lack of profile water recharge from the previous season restricted early root growth and rooting depth. Overall, the wheat crops showed declined yields at all the studied sites which coincided with shallow rooting depths, lower WUE, and higher WFs.Item Type, frequency, and diversity of pulses on annualized protein-based yield in pulse-wheat rotation system(2022-03-08) Lasisi, Ahmed; Liu, Kui; Bandara, Manjula; Gan, YantaiPulses are major break crops in wheat production system to reduce nitrogen fertilization and improve system productivity on the semi-arid Canadian Prairies. However, it is unclear how the type, frequency, and diversity of pulses affect annualized protein-based yield (PBY; average protein yield over a rotation cycle) in pulse-wheat production systems. This study examined the effect of pulse type (chickpea, lentil, and pea), pulse frequency (one, two, and three pulse years in every 4-yr rotation), and pulse diversity (one pulse type, two pulse types, and three pulse types in every 4-yr rotation) on PBY in two 4-yr wheat-based rotation cycles. The study was conducted at three sites, including two sites at Swift Current (SK) and one site at Brooks (AB), from 2010 to 2019. Results showed that PBY in pulse-wheat rotation systems was significantly (P = 0.0036) in the order of pea-wheat (502 kg ha-1 yr-1) > lentil-wheat (449 kg ha-1 yr-1) > chickpea-wheat (375 kg ha-1 yr-1) > continuous wheat (350 kg ha-1 yr-1) rotation systems irrespective of pulse frequency across sites-cycles. Although there was a significant effect of pulse inclusion on PBY in the wheat production system over the two rotation cycles, there was no significant effect of pulse frequency on the PBY across pulse types. Similarly, diversifying pulses to include more than one pulse type in the pulse-wheat rotation system did not significantly increase PBY. Overall, including pulses in wheat production system can improve PBY irrespective of type, frequency, and diversity of pulses.Item Breeding to Enhance Value in the Western Canadian Malting Barley Industry(2022-03-08) Aaron BeattieBarley is a significant western Canadian crop that has been seeded on an average of 6.8 million acres over the past five years. In addition to the thousands of barley producers that derive income from barley production, barley is critical to the livestock industry, grain handlers and value-added industries, such as maltsters and brewers. Barley generated approximately $3.6 billion in revenue to these groups in 2020, with a total contribution of $13.6 billion to the Canadian GDP. The foundation of the western Canadian malting barley industry is built upon varieties that meet the needs of the various members of the value-chain. However, to build on Canada’s position as a supplier of premium malting barley requires developing barley varieties that provide better value to the industry through enhancing currently important traits or by introducing new traits. This talk will provide a current overview of western Canadian barley production, the different categories of malt barley being bred, recent varieties released, and examples of several traits that are the focus of on-going research which currently have, or may eventually have, value to the industry.Item Can winter barley be grown in Central Saskatchewan?(2023-03-07) Singh, Gursahib; Hnatowich, Garry; Japp, MitchellWinter barley is a frequent topic of inquiry to the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission. A field trial was established in the South Saskatchewan River Irrigation District to evaluate the survivability of winter barley varieties. The trial was established on an irrigated Elstow loam, previously planted in Canola. Four winter barley varieties and one winter wheat variety (control check) were seeded in early September in a randomized complete block design. The treatment consisted of two seeding rates (200 vs. 400 seeds/m2) and seed treatment (none vs. treated). All five varieties emerged and successfully established in the fall. The canola stubble provided ideal snow-trap potential, with good snow cover for most of the winter. New growth in the winter wheat plot was observed in early May, whereas none of the four winter barley varieties had new growth in the spring. The project was terminated at the end of May due to no growth in winter barley plots.Item Comparative Analysis of Cadmium Uptake and Distribution in Flax(2021-03-16) House, Megan Alexandra; Young, Lester; Liu, Xia; Liber, Karsten; Diederichsen, Axel; Booker, HelenHumans consume low quantities of cadmium (Cd), a non-nutritive and potentially toxic heavy metal, primarily via the dietary intake of grains. As part of a larger study designed to assist in the breeding of low Cd-accumulating flax varieties, we have conducted an experiment to determine physiological and developmental differences in Cd content in four flax cultivars (AC Emerson, Flanders, CDC Bethune, and AC McDuff). Our objective was to identify varietal differences in the uptake and distribution of Cd in various tissues among flax cultivars grown in naturally Cd-containing soil in a controlled environment. Cadmium concentration was dependent on the flax variety, developmental stage, and tissue type, as well as their interaction and our results suggest varietal differences in the mechanisms that determine Cd content in seeds. The results of this project, combined with those from genomics and field experiments, will support and accelerate the breeding of adapted flax varieties with low levels of Cd in the seed. Link to Video Presentation: https://youtu.be/0B49NbXL8gg