One of the best ways to achieve a management strategy for HR weeds is through comprehensive surveys of areas in which these weeds occur. This project directly builds on three rounds of HR weed surveys conducted across the prairies (2013 to 2019) by Dr. Hugh Beckie. Thus, this project aims to aid the transition, maintain the methods used in previous surveys, increase surveillance efforts for new HR weeds, and build an HR weed biovigilance strategy for the Canadian Prairies.
Read MoreThe main aim of this project is to develop new estimates for crop nutrient uptake and removal by crops to address two concerns: 1) that the current information regarding crop nutrient uptake and removal does not reflect current crop yields, and 2) that the grain and straw nutrient concentration estimates are not adequately reflective of current varieties and there is no consistent data regarding micronutrient uptake and removal.
Read MoreThe overall objective of this project is to develop a novel way of conducting on-farm agronomic experiments that can be done automatically, and this method is termed as Modulated On-farm Response Surface Experiments (MORSE) by the researcher. This project focuses on a technology development that fuses developments in precision-controlled farm equipment with state-of-the-art advances in crop imaging and image analysis.
Read MoreThe objectives of this project include: Determining and comparing the long-term effects of short, diverse and wheat-based rotations on agronomics and soil health; examining the short-term differences between these rotations; and documenting carbon and nitrogen input from residues of diverse crop sequences in southeastern Saskatchewan.
Read MoreThis project aims to deliver best management practices for an ultra-early seeded durum wheat so that the ultra-early seeding system strategy allows to expand the seeding window for all crops for producers. This 4-year project will attempt to design a seeding system tailored to CWAD by analysing the germplasm within CWAD that would display variation around adaptation to the cold soils and abiotic stresses that occur when planting at or near 0ºC.
Read MoreKochia is one of the biggest agricultural weed problems in the southern Canadian prairies due to increased abundance of herbicide-resistant (HR) biotypes. The overall goals of this research project are to improve the understanding of synthetic auxin resistance in kochia; to determine how quickly this type of resistance will spread; to develop effective tools for management of these biotypes and, to stay ahead of potential new types of herbicide resistance through intensive population screening efforts.
Read MoreThis project will generate information on how P fertilizer source (form) and its interaction with placement and rate influences yield, fertilizer P recovery and use efficiency in a cereal-pulse-oilseed rotation. This study will also analyze the potential loss of soluble reactive phosphate off-site in spring snowmelt runoff in contrasting soils, and its relationship to the forms of P that accumulate in the soil and water.
Read MoreThis project will take advantage of a simple residue manipulation experiment that has been maintained for 20 years at AAFC Lethbridge. To assess soil health, the researchers will merge data on crop yields and soil C and N stocks. This will enable them to construct long-term C and N budgets indicating inputs to and outputs from contrasting treatments, which will be used to further the development of the greenhouse gas calculator, known as Holos. The project also will enable the researchers to study the effects of residues and fertilization on available plant N, which is a critical determinant of yield and profitability.
Read MoreHerbicide resistant weeds continue to make weed management more challenging in Western Canada. This project aims to develop a decision support tool to aid producers in determining what products would constitute multiple effective modes of action (MEMOA) for target weeds in their field. In addition, a second tool would be developed to help identify the potential risk of herbicide resistance evolving based on a four year crop rotation and the resulting herbicide choices.
Read MoreThe overall goal of this project is to optimize the arbuscular mycorrhizae inoculation potential and subsequent nitrogen use efficiency in cereal crops. This research will provide valuable agronomic knowledge that will enable producers to be more efficient in the application of nitrogen fertilizers and validate the efficacy of AMF inoculation in conjunction with common pesticides used in Canadian cereal crops.
Read MoreThis project will deliver information on improving the fungicide timing and possibly widen the window of application for wheat growers and to make important decision on fungicide application in an integrated FHB management strategy. This study builds on the recently completed project on fungicide timing in durum wheat, funded by Sask Wheat.
Read MoreThe objective of this project is to lay the foundation for developing an economic threshold for cereal damage for wireworm in Alberta. The outcomes will contribute toward giving producers the information they need to make informed decisions about investing in chemical control. Since wireworm is the primary reason that cereal seeds are treated with insecticides on the Prairies, this information has the potential to reduce unnecessary pesticide use.
Read MoreVery little is known about the performance of wheat varietal mixtures (VMs) in response to various pests in large scale mechanized farming systems in Western Canada. This project will study the management of pests and diseases to increase the reliability of wheat VMs. The aim of the project is to evaluate the performance of CPSR and CWRS wheat VMs for disease reduction in marginally and conventionally managed lands. The results are expected to help producers decide which wheat VMs to use based on characteristics and benefits.
Read MoreThis project combines the results of previous studies to determine optimal varietal choice and planting time; employing early and late planting with early and late maturing cultivars presently available to western Canadian wheat growers. This will aid in refining best management practices for optimal yield and harvest quality (including protein and falling number) for hard red spring wheat production in Western Canada.
Read MoreThus, the focus of this project is to provide spatially and temporally integrated data on greenhouse gas (GHG; N2O and CO2) emissions at the field scale level obtained using micrometeorological techniques that will be used to determine net ecosystem exchange and the net carbon footprint of the cropping system (canola cereal rotation). This research will support the policy development for local producers as they enter the carbon economy and to ensure the competitiveness of Saskatchewan agriculture.
Read MoreThis project will take samples from fields across Saskatchewan to determine the number of wheat midge larvae present. This data will be used to produce the annual wheat midge forecast map.
Read MoreThis research aims to answer some fundamental questions about spot spraying technology such as its performance in western Canadian conditions and its impact on chemical use and crop yield.
Read MoreThe ultimate goal of the proposed research is to identify the traits associated with spring wheat varieties that show the best crop NUE, thereby providing breeders with critical information for designing new crosses and breeding approaches aimed at increasing NUE. This research will enable growers to select genotypes that reduce N-fertilizer applications without negatively impacting yields.
Read MoreThis project focuses on identifying new wheat germplasm with better Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) and grain quality. Currently, the fertilizer NUE (grain yield per unit of N fertilizers) in many farm fields is below 50%, leading to significant loss of N and investments, and environmental contamination as well. Currently, the yearly genetic gain for NUE in wheat is very low and in the range of 0.3-1.2%. The use of higher NUE wheat varieties that could improve efficiency even by 10% from the current level would save the cost associated with N fertilizers by $3.4 to $17.0 million per year for Saskatchewan.
Read MoreIn the current project SKSIS-3, the main focus is to examine the potential for producer-partnered predictive soil mapping (PPPSM) that might provide higher-resolution soil information through the Predictive Soil Mapping (PSM) feature. The objectives are: to explore data sharing models with data partners that leverage the power of information for PSM and soil resource management; to develop a business plan to provide self-generating base operating funds for maintenance and updates of SKSIS and PSM modules; and to develop a standalone SKSIS feature for efficient remote use in internet deficient areas of Saskatchewan.
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