By Dori Modney

Joint collaboration soil health project to increase on-farm fertilizer stewardship

Dec 3, 2021 | 3:41 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB. — Fertilizer Canada and Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) have joined forces on a soil health research project, that will study the long term effect of sulfur and nitrogen fertilizer management. It will also look at nutrient cycling and the impact on soil health, forage and grain productivity and quality.

The collaborators bring matching investments of $257,272 which is expected to provide Alberta grain, forage, and crop producers with tangible results at the farm gate. Alberta is a major contributor to Canada’s agriculture industry.

Statistics Canada shows that in 2021 alone, Alberta could produce 26.4% of Canada’s wheat, 30.4% of canola, 45.3% of barley, 15.3% of oats., and 33.9% of pulses. Farmers use sulfur and nitrogen fertilizer to restore nutrient balance to their soils, in order to continually produce high production yields.

Over the last two to three decades, increasingly diverse crop rotations and cropping frequency, including higher-yielding cultivars, increased nutrient requirements and crop residues returned to the soil which, in turn, affects oil nutrient cycling and nutrient balances.

It is known that Canada’s fertilizer industry has a significant role in mitigating climate change – so the industry has been proactively working to reduce on-farm emissions and is known as a world leader in efficient crop production while reducing on-farm emissions.

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Investment into fertilizer management research can increase farm profitability for Alberta producers through increased returns on fertilizer investments and future increased marketability of sustainably produced crops. Results from this study will support producers’ combined sulfur and nitrogen fertilizer management decisions for increased crop productivity, grain and forage quality, and improved soil health.

Dr. Miles Dyck from the University of Alberta will lead the multi-year soil health research project, contributing to Alberta’s efforts to fight climate change and promote responsible nutrient management.

McKenzie Smith, Director, Stewardship & Regulatory Affairs, Fertilizer Canada, commented on his organization’s view of the study.

“Fertilizer Canada recognizes the importance of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship system for helping guide growers in applying their fertilizer in a method which benefits both the environment and the economics of their operations.”

The project supports 4R Nutrient Stewardship, a science-based approach to nutrient management that applies the Right Source @ Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place®.

By using 4R best management practices, Alberta and Canadian producers can optimize plant nutrient uptake and increase yields while achieving quantifiable reductions in emissions.

More information o the research can be found at Results Driven Agriculture Research.