Project AbstractYield trends continue to improve with the adoption of better genetics and agronomic practices, leaving soils deficient of nutrients in critical periods. Relatively immobile nutrients may be accumulating near the soil surface (referred to as nutrient stratification) due to the adoption of zero tillage and shallow banding. This study determines if the periodic (once every three-years) deep banded application of immobile nutrients (P, K & Cu) can reduce nutrient stratification while improving nutrient uptake and crop production on land previously under direct seeding for >10 years. |
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Project Objectives
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MethodsSmall plot replicated (treatments arranged in RCBD with 4 replications) trials were conducted on the farmland previously under direct seeding for >10 years. The three study sites (Falher, Vegreville & Lethbridge) covered different soils (brown, black, and grey) and growing season conditions (long, medium, and short) to represent diverse soil types and growing conditions of Alberta. Effects of one-time deep banding (3 x recommended rate at start of three-year study in 2018) versus annual shallow banding (current practice; recommended rates applied each year for 3 years) of immobile nutrients (P, K, and Cu) were compared for 3 years. The study was conducted for canola, wheat, and pea crops. |
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Measurements
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Recommendations
Crop response was generally not linked to the deep or shallow placement of P, K, and PKCu. Changes in nutrient concentrations of seed and biomass of crops in response to nutrient additions were not consistent as they increased and decreased in different cases. Occasionally, soil P and Cu concentrations increased in response to their additions, but there was no change from K applications.
Overall, either once in three-years deep banding or annual shallow banding method can be used considering the logistics at the farm and prices for fertilizers. If the available seeding drill does not have an adequate number of tanks to apply different fertilizers at seeding and minimizing seeding time is helpful, deep placement once in few years may be used. But when the available drill has a sufficient number of tanks, and there is enough time for seeding at a farm, shallow annual applications are appropriate.
Project Playlist
When we started this project, yield trends were improving with the adoption of better genetics and agronomic practices. The downside was that soils were turning up deficient of nutrients in critical periods. Our hypothesis was that immobile nutrients were accumulating near the surface of the soil.
The Deep Banding Immobile Nutrients project is more than two-thirds of the way through and we have some preliminary observations.
Farming Smarter started into a three-year project led by SARDA this past spring to see if deep banding some nutrients might make a difference to crop health.
Farming Smarter employees got their hands dirty with their most recent foray into the world of soil as they began preparing for the Deep Banding of Immobile Nutrients project.