Project AbstractWinter crops provide a distinct advantage over spring crops in extending the growing season under western Canadian conditions. Their longer period of growth compared to spring crops generally leads to higher grain yield in addition to limiting weed pressure and soil erosion. Due to these reasons, there is high interest among the producers for winter crop cultivation. However, limited information is available to them regarding the best management practices and varieties suitable for western Canadian conditions especially in the case of novel crops such as winter durum, oats, barley, faba beans etc. This study intends to enhance the adaptability of novel, fall-seeded pulse, and cereal crops through variety screening for western Canadian growing conditions and through seed treatment application. This study was conducted at six locations in Alberta for a single growing season (fall-seeding 2021). 8 novel crops, including winter barley, oats, durum, wheat, pea, lentils, and camelina will be evaluated for fall-seeded crop production through the screening of recently developed varieties. The varieties to be screened will be chosen based on the winter cereal survival model developed by Byrns et al. (2020). This project will provide information to western Canadian producers about the agronomic feasibility of winter production of novel pulse and cereals. |
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Project Objectives
The major purpose of this project is to enhance the adoption of novel winter crops in southern Alberta through the screening and recommendation of crop varieties favorable to growing conditions in western Canada, and through the application of seed treatments. Recently developed varieties of 8 winter crops including winter barley, oats, durum, wheat, pea, lentils, and camelina will be evaluated for fall seeded production at different locations within Alberta. The specific objective of this study is the following
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Evaluate the agronomic performance and yield of recently developed varieties of winter barley, oats, durum, pea, lentils, and camelina for fall-seeded production in the Alberta region. |
MethodsSmall plot research trials were conducted separately for six winter crops including winter barley, oats, wheat, pea, lentils, and camelina using randomized complete block design (RCBD) at three locations in southern Alberta including Lethbridge, Bow Island, and Enchant. The research trials were conducted under dryland and irrigated conditions at all sites for one growing season in 2021-2022. A total of 34 cultivars for the winter crops listed above were evaluated in these trials. Farming Smarter partnered with Ken Greer and Dr. Eric Bremer (Western Ag group of Companies) to source these recently developed cultivars from Canada, Germany, Poland, USA etc. The experimental design included a factorial combination of a) crop cultivars and b) seeding timings. For the Lethbridge site, four seedling timings were included – fall (last two weeks of September), dormant (mid-November), winter (mid to late March) and spring (late April and early May) seeding timings. For the Bow Island and Enchant locations, two seeding timings, i.e., fall and spring seeding timings were included. |
Measurements
Soil temperature was recorded using temperature loggers installed at 2.5 cm depth. The over-winter survival of selected winter crops was estimated using the winter cereal survival model (Byrns et al. 2020) by using the soil temperature measurements at 2.5 cm depth, stage of crop phenological development, and cultivar maximum low-temperature tolerance potential (LT50c) by Dr. Eric Bremer (Western Ag Group of Companies).
- Plant counts - The plants counts will be performed first in the fall (late October to mid-November) by staking and counting two 1-m row sections at two representative locations in each plot (front and back). Plant counts will be conducted again in the spring (mid to late April) to determine over-winter survival of the crops.
- Crop growth metrics including canopy closure, days to start and end of flowering, and days to maturity will be recorded. Canopy closure will be determined by measuring fractional green canopy cover (FGCC) using the Canapeo Android App.
- Soil temperature will be recorded for each research plot using temperature loggers installed at the depth of 2.5 cm.
- Crop yield will be determined at harvest using plot combine harvest master system. Grain/seed quality metrics including seed weight (g per 1000 kernels) and protein concentration will be determined following harvest.