AAFC Studying Effect Of Climate Change On Soil Health

Jan 31, 2018

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is conducting a research project looking at the effect climate change is having on soil health.

Soil Scientist Stephen Crittenden, based in Brandon, talked about the study earlier this month at Manitoba Ag Days.

"We're going to simulate drought in no-till, we're going to simulate drought in tilled soil and we're going to irrigate and we're not going to irrigate," he explained. "We're going to measure soil health parameters, so a lot of beneficial ones, nutrient status, organic matter, soil physical properties...but also we're going to look at the unhealthy parameters. So the flip side of the coin, negative impacts. Greenhouse gas emissions and incidence of fusarium head blight."

Source : Steinbachonline

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.