The purpose of the project was to improve understanding of the value of diversified cropping for three regions of the Canadian Prairies with different climatic conditions. These included the Parkland region where canola dominates cropping systems, southern Manitoba where warmer season crops such as corn and soybean can be grown, and the semi-arid prairies where pulse crops such as lentil are widely grown.
Read MoreOverall, this research forms the foundation of a promising tool for Saskatchewan producers who are interested in tracking soil health and using the results to inform management practices. To confirm the competitiveness in agronomic performance of our lines when compared to top wheat cultivars, the researchers will perform an extensive agronomic characterization under field conditions. These results will allow the selection of wheat lines with the potential to be released as new CWRS cultivars.
Read MoreIn late 2018, the Agri-Arm group devised a study to compare the quality and performance of certified wheat seed against farm-saved seed (FSS). Farm-saved seed is the producer’s own seed which they clean and use as a seed source for their own farm, because it is cheaper than buying certified seed. Historically, the majority of wheat acres in western Canada are seeded with FSS. Producers will typically introduce better genetics by purchasing certified seed and then use FSS after that for a few years. SaskWheat wanted to know if this was a best practice or whether certified seed should be used more often because it may be better quality, more productive seed. A fair comparison between certified and FSS would require the generation of a lot of data. To this end, the project involved all 8 Agri-Arm locations in Saskatchewan and was funded for 3 years (2019-2021).
Read MoreThe broad phenotypic variation captured by the NAM population provided valuable novel genetic variations for the Canadian spring wheat breeding program. The high-quality haplotype map generated from this project could allow breeders to accurately impute genotypes with a low-resolution genotyping platform in their breeding program. Novel genetic variations for disease and agronomic traits identified by the NAM analysis provide new targets and breeder-friendly markers for wheat improvement. These established NAM genomic resources may also serve as a cost-efficient platform for Canadian wheat breeding programs to identify genetic markers of their targeted traits, as only phenotyping is required.
Read MoreHerbicide resistant weeds continue to increase in incidence and frequency, limiting weed management options available to producers. New management strategies are needed for producers to continue to successfully manage their weeds. Harvest weed seed control (HWSC) is a paradigm of weed control that focuses on managing weeds that are being spread by the combine harvester. These weeds retain their seeds until crop harvest, produce weeds at a height where they can be collected, and are successfully taken into the combine. One method of harvest weed seed control that may have a fit in western Canada are the physical impact mills.
Read MoreFusarium head blight (FHB) has become a substantial management concern for wheat growers in Saskatchewan, affecting both yield and quality of the crop. An integrated approach to FHB management is recommended, including the use of resistant varieties, a timely fungicide application, and crop rotation, along with other cultural practices.
Read MoreProtection from fungal plant pathogens is key for optimizing the yield and quality of wheat. However, current grower practices and historical research do not always align with respect to optimum fungicide timing to maximize disease control, yield, quality and profitability of Canadian Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat.
Read MoreWheat is a staple crop in many Canadian prairie crop rotations. Yet as years pass, net profitability of this crop has declined despite significant breeding improvements in yield. Unfortunately, new or updated agronomic research in wheat has been minimal. However, if management practices are tailored to individual market classes and/or varieties it may be the key to enhancing the profitability of wheat.
Read MoreAgricultural drought is well recognized as inadequate moisture for crop production. Additionally, sporadic moisture deficits that escape public attention also impact crop economics. Statistics Canada noted in one of the many drought years in Saskatchewan and Alberta: “Dry conditions during the growing phase in much of Canada's wheat belt contributed to lower crop yields.” Heat and drought exacerbate the stress conditions and affect many biochemical, biophysical and developmental aspects in plants. Every degree Celsius above the optimal temperature can cause as much as 6% yield reduction in wheat. Drought and heat impact crop productivity more than all other biotic and abiotic stresses combined.
Read MoreProducers are always evaluating their crop sequences and rotations seeking to maximize returns without jeopardizing future income through poor agronomic practices. Producers who are growing or want to grow special crops like canaryseed, coriander, hemp or quinoa lack this valuable information. The objectives of this research were to determine the best fit of special crops into crop sequences and to determine if optimum crop sequences change depending on the environment.
Read MoreIn 2019 and 2020, trials were established at 8 AgriARM locations across Saskatchewan to demonstrate the potential of increasing either wheat yield or grain protein with late-season applications of N in the form of UAN or dissolved urea. All late-season applications of UAN were applied at 30 lb N/ac to a base rate of 70 lb N/ac of side-banded urea. Applications of dissolved urea were only applied at 25 lb N/ac due to a calculation error.
Read MoreSpring wheat remains the most important crop in western Canada, with high-quality Canadian western red spring wheat accounting for about two-thirds of the total. Because of the short growing season, yields of spring wheat are generally lower than those obtained with winter wheat. In addition, a great deal of bread wheat grown in the northern regions of the Prairie Provinces is downgraded because it becomes frost-damaged before full maturity. Later maturing wheat can also be more difficult to harvest. Hence, early maturity is a desired trait to be incorporated (without compromising high yield and quality) into Canadian spring wheat.
Read MoreThis project gave rise to the development of technology that will find applications in wheat crop improvement. This one-year bridging project aimed at the development of better selection procedures for genetic engineering of triticale and wheat microspore mitochondria with the long-term objective of the introduction of the N2 biological fixation pathway into mitochondria of crops. The selection procedures were improved by modification of the cell and tissue culture protocols and by the construction of a novel, better selectable marker genes for mitochondria transformation using short peptide nanocarrier mediated delivery.
Read MoreResults from a recently completed long-term cropping system experiment conducted at the Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Research Farm at Scott, Sk., showed that grain yields were consistently lower (25-40%) on organically managed (pesticides and synthetic fertilizers withheld) compared to conventionally managed systems. Each management system included two, six-year rotations comprised of either a mix of annual grain crops (oilseeds, pulses and cereals) or a mix of annual and perennial crops (oilseed, cereals and three years of alfalfa hay).
Read MoreThe accumulation of crop residue at the soil surface can interfere with field operations like seeding, negatively affecting germination and emergence and hence crop yield. Vertical tillage and tandem disc implements are used to manage residue and alter soil physical conditions, mainly at the soil surface.
Read MoreAs agricultural crop yield potentials increase, greater amounts of phosphorus (P) are removed from soil in harvested plant material. As a result, greater amounts of phosphorus fertilizers are required to maintain both crop yields and long-term soil fertility. However, P fertilizer application practices must consider factors including high reactivity of P with soil constituents such as Ca that can render large proportions of soil applied P unavailable.
Read MoreResults from this study indicate that significant N2O emissions reductions can be achieved in both rainfed (nonirrigated) and irrigated cropping systems by using a urea-based EENF. In general, the greatest emissions reductions were achieved using stabilized N products that employ a nitrification inhibitor to delay the oxidation of NH4 + to NO2 – by inhibiting the activity of nitrifying bacteria in the soil.
Read MoreBased on the responses to subsoiling tillage identified in this study, it is recommended that efforts be undertaken by growers to first identify the specific soil types and compaction conditions most likely to produce positive yield response by using maps of soil type, records of traffic history, and use of soil penetration resistance measurements to compare areas within the field.
Read MoreThe Saskatchewan Variety Performance Group (SVPG) is an informal group made up of stakeholders who are interested in variety performance testing in Saskatchewan. SVPG has coordinated the post-registration regional performance testing of spring wheat, durum, barley, oats and flax varieties since 2006.
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