Lakeland College researcher Robyne Davidson explains how pulse crops improve nitrogen efficiency, soil structure, crop quality, and climate resilience across Prairie rotations.
When it comes to understanding the agronomic value of pulse crops, few researchers have spent more time in the field than Robyne Davidson, research scientist in pulses and special crops at Lakeland College. Her work has consistently highlighted the important role pulses play in improving soil health, strengthening rotations, and supporting resilient cropping systems across the Prairies.
According to Davidson, the starting point is nitrogen. Pulse crops fix their own nitrogen, she notes, which immediately reduces fertilizer needs and helps preserve the nitrogen already in the soil. This effect also extends to phosphorus: pulse crops have unique abilities to access bound-up phosphorus that cereal and canola crops often cannot.
As a result, she says, “that leads to less application of fertilizers onto the field,” supporting lower-input, more sustainable production.
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