Buy a subscription

Home Contact Sitemap login Checkout

Farming Smarter

Farming Smarter
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Who We Are
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
    • What We Do
    • Agronomy Research
    • Custom Research
    • Field Tested
    • Knowledge & Network
  • What We Offer
    • What We Offer
    • Events
      • Events
      • Agronomist Learning Series
    • Research Projects
      • Research Projects
      • Agronomy Research Projects
      • Field Tested Projects
      • Custom Research Projects
    • Subscriptions
      • Subscriptions
      • FS Agronomy Subscription
      • FS Digital Subscription
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Smart Partner Program
    • Speakers
  • Get Involved
    • Get Involved
    • Sponsorship
    • I want to help!
    • With On-farm Research
    • With Product Testing
    • With Small Plot Research
    • Jobs
    • Internship Opportunities
    • Volunteer!
    • Support Research!
  • Learning Resources
    • Learning Resources
    • Online Classroom (CEU)
    • News Articles
    • Videos
    • Magazine
    • Publications & Reports
      • Publications & Reports
      • Published Papers
      • Research Reports
    • Podcasts
    • 360 Videos
Print This Page

High Value Specialty Crops

High Value Specialty Crops

Incorporating them into your rotation

Project Abstract

The development of high value specialty crops is crucial for a diversified and robust agricultural industry in Canada. It is very important for on-farm profitability and is a key driver for value added industries. With strong developing markets, it is vastly important that growers can meet the demands by seamlessly integrating these crops into traditional crop rotations. We propose to identify the best fit of novel crops into standard crop sequences specific for three agro-climatic zones including southern portion of the province (on irrigated land), central Alberta and the Peace Country. Using a strip design approach this four-year study will involve eight crops including a core set of staple crops (wheat, barley, canola, pea) and selected novel crops (i.e. hemp, quinoa, dry beans, soybean, flax, corn) gaining popularity among Alberta growers.

Due to significant climatic differences among the locations selection of novel crops will be site-specific to address inquiries extended by the local area growers. As a result, 64 crop sequence combinations will be evaluated. Hence, our research is designed to develop a decision-making tool for growers selecting the best stubbles to grow specific crops on and help to avoid stubbles that are particularly negative for yield and quality of the subsequent crop. Consequently, it will diminish the risk of crop failure due to inadequate management of crops caused by the lack of knowledge regarding novel crop production

Project Details

Timeline 2018-2021
Principal Investigator: Jan Salski
InnoTech Alberta
Project Contact: Mike Gretzinger
Funded By:

WGRF (Western Grains Research Foundation)



Project Objectives

  • Identification of the impacts of novel crops introduced to production in Alberta and Saskatchewan on the performance of staple crops
  • Diminish risks of crop failure due to inadequate management of new crops by the lack of knowledge for novel crop production
  • Generation of comprehensive, agro-climatic zone-specific agronomic information that will be critical for successful introduction of novel crops into rotations.
  • Dissemination of knowledge throughout field days, papers, reports, and electronic media

Methods

This project will focus on field trials designed to determine the effects of various crops in rotations using a set of zone-specific staple crops and selected novel crops. This information will help producers make decisions on where to fit novel crops into crop rotations. The project includes trials executed at four locations over four growing seasons aimed at maximizing practical information regarding crop performance in different agro-ecozones.

We will use a strip design approach for this study, involving eight crops including a core set of staple cops (wheat, barley, canola, pea) and selected novel crops (hemp, quinoa, dry beans, soybean, flax, corn) gaining popularity among Alberta growers. Since there is significant climate differences among the locations, novel crops will be site specific.

The design will result in 256 plots (8 proceeding crops x 8 crops x 4reps) in Year B. Each plot will be 64 m2 (16m x 4m) or 32m2 if only shorter strips are possible. To avoid inter-plot interference only central portion of each plot (48 or 24m2) will be harvested for yield quantification.

Year A will be seeded in 2018, 2019 and 2020 in a new site at each of the four locations. Year B will be seeded in 2019, 2020 and 2021 on the Year A site from the previous year.

Such approach will generate 64 crop sequence combinations. These are just two-year sequences. Therefore, this experiment will be conducted three times at each of the four locations providing us with a potential of 12 station-year of data.

Locations

Vegreville, AB
Falher, AB
Farming Smarter - Lethbridge, AB


Measurements

  • Plant counts
  • Biomass
  • Yield
  • Soil samples
  • Grade (protein, oil content, test weight, TKW, etc)


Results

Sign in or subscribe to view

Farming Smarter

211034 Hwy 512, Lethbridge County, AB
T1J 5N9 Canada

Quick Links

Who We Are

What We Do

What We Offer

Get Involved

Learning Resources

More

Staff Directory

Contact

Copyright © Farming Smarter 2023. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions