Canola Watch #3

Feb 06, 2015

Agronomy topics for February

The Canola Council of Canada launches a new agronomy video on the value of strong stand establishment. Click the image above.

In celebration of International Year of Soils 2015, the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) agronomy team spoke this week with the University of Manitoba’s Canada research chair in applied soil ecology, Mario Tenuta. His answers to a couple of our big questions are below.

The new Canola Research Hub has launched, creating a one-stop user experience to search and compile relevant agronomy research.

CanoLABs are in final prep stages. The first is in Saskatoon, February 10-11, then Olds, February 18-20 and Brandon, March 11-12. Most days are sold out, but you might be able to grab one of the few remaining spots or add your name to the waiting list. Click here for registration links.

Does soil health really matter? YES

The CCC agronomy team asked Mario Tenuta, the University of Manitoba’s Canada research chair in applied soil ecology, if preserving soil health really matters, or can soil degradation be corrected simply by adding more fertilizer.

His answer:

“If growers ignore soil health, input costs will go up. Increased inputs can compensate and keep up with soil degradation for quite a while — perhaps several decades. But the cost of compensation will continue to rise over that period, and soil degradation will reach a point where yield can’t keep up no matter how many inputs are added.

“Ask any grower to describe their best land for growing crops. It’s probably the land with the best soil structure and soil organic matter. Higher organic matter means higher productivity. It can also mean lower disease incidents. The higher the organic matter, the greater diversity of beneficial organisms that can increase a plant’s ability to tolerate infection.

“Following the 4 Rs of fertility management can also help to increase organic matter because of better crop productivity. So can leaving residue behind to form more humus. Of all the soil amendments to increase humus, I like manure and compost best.”

The Canola Encyclopedia has more on what growers can do to improve soil health.

Source: Alberta Canola Producers Commission