Agronomy: August 2011 Archives
It's mid summer, and that means I spend many of my days out at various field days. Just yesterday I toured a field near Elfros, Sask., that was growing a gorgeous stand of yellow peas. Sure, there were ugly spots where ponding had knocked back the crop in the early season, but overall it was a very good stand. Then, we went to see one of the nicest flax fields I've ever had to wade through. Both of these fields started in less than ideal conditions, and both share some interesting management challenges.
At this particular field day, we discussed how important it is to be planning ahead when it comes to fertility management. Peas, of course, fix their own nitrogen and leave a good deal behind to be released over the coming year or two. If conditions stay wet (this crop still had ample moisture but was no longer considered wet), there's not much you can do to protect the residual N from losses due to leaching or denitrification, however you could use a product such as ESN to protect a portion or all of the N you put down in the spring or fall, if you were seeding winter wheat. Depending too heavily on residual N could prove a poor choice if the wet cycle continues in this area.
In the flax field we discussed how flax needs phosphorus, as does any crop, however this crop's roots dive straight down and don't branch. Really, you need phosphorus directly below the seed but how are you going to get it there? The suggested solution was, yes, to put a safe level of seed placed P, but also to plant flax on fields with ample background P already in the soil and ready to be released and used. It could mean bumping P rates the year before flax, knowing that you won't lose it in the current year and it'll be available to the crop next year.
These are simply two examples of all that was discussed on this day. Do you think about fertility for next year's crop while this year's is still growing? Do the yields you achieve this year change your planned fertility levels for next? Look for more on this topic in the September issue of Grainews!
At this particular field day, we discussed how important it is to be planning ahead when it comes to fertility management. Peas, of course, fix their own nitrogen and leave a good deal behind to be released over the coming year or two. If conditions stay wet (this crop still had ample moisture but was no longer considered wet), there's not much you can do to protect the residual N from losses due to leaching or denitrification, however you could use a product such as ESN to protect a portion or all of the N you put down in the spring or fall, if you were seeding winter wheat. Depending too heavily on residual N could prove a poor choice if the wet cycle continues in this area.
In the flax field we discussed how flax needs phosphorus, as does any crop, however this crop's roots dive straight down and don't branch. Really, you need phosphorus directly below the seed but how are you going to get it there? The suggested solution was, yes, to put a safe level of seed placed P, but also to plant flax on fields with ample background P already in the soil and ready to be released and used. It could mean bumping P rates the year before flax, knowing that you won't lose it in the current year and it'll be available to the crop next year.
These are simply two examples of all that was discussed on this day. Do you think about fertility for next year's crop while this year's is still growing? Do the yields you achieve this year change your planned fertility levels for next? Look for more on this topic in the September issue of Grainews!
Profile
Grainews editor Lyndsey Smith answers readers' questions, asks her own and, now and then, discusses what's new and interesting in western Canadian production agriculture.
