Crop yield and soil nutrient status on 14 organic farms in the eastern portion of the northern Great Plains

2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Entz ◽  
R. Guilford ◽  
R. Gulden
Keyword(s):  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Green Manure ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Soil Nutrient Status ◽  
Canadian Prairies ◽  
Soil P

Cropping records from 13 organic farms in the eastern Canadian prairies and one in North Dakota (1991 to 1996) were surveyed to determine crop rotation pattern, yields and soil nutrient status. Major crops included cereal grains, forages, and green manure legumes. Organic grain and forage yields averaged from one-half to almost double conventional yields. Soil N, K and S levels on organic farms were generally sufficient; however, levels of available soil P were deficient in several instances. Key words: Crop rotation, weeds, forages, green manure crops

Short-term impacts of winter bale grazing beef cows on forage production and soil nutrient status in the eastern Canadian prairies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwen Donohoe ◽  
Don Flaten ◽  
Faith Omonijo ◽  
Kim Ominski
Keyword(s):  
Untreated Control ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Large Mass ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Soil Nutrient Status ◽  
Canadian Prairies ◽  
The Impact

The impact of winter bale grazing on forage productivity and nutrient cycling was determined near Winnipeg, MB. Variable distribution of nutrients and forage yield within bale grazed plots on a perennial grass-legume forage field was identified using an intensive grid sampling method. In bale-grazed plots, mean dry matter (DM) yield of forage decreased 68% in year one following bale grazing, with no difference in DM yield in year two following bale grazing, relative to an untreated control. Decreased yield was attributed to the large mass of waste feed and feces (21% of feed delivered) that remained at the centre of each bale-grazed plot, where each bale was placed. Concentrations of crude protein, total digestible nutrients, phosphorus (P), and potassium in forage increased in the first growing season following winter bale grazing compared to the control, particularly at the centre of each bale-grazed plot. Concentrations of residual nitrate-nitrogen and Olsen P in soil were 15 and 2.5 times greater, respectively, at the centre of the bale-grazed plots compared to untreated control plots. Dispersion of waste feed packs when bale grazing in sub-humid climates on clay soils is recommended to minimize smothering and encourage rapid decomposition of waste feed and feces. Long-term studies are needed to determine the potential benefits and risks of bale grazing to forage productivity and soil nutrient status in the eastern Canadian prairies.

Soil Nutrient Status of Organic Farms in Flanders: An Overview and a Comparison with the Conventional Situation

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefaan De Neve ◽  
Annemie Van Den Bossche ◽  
Steven Sleutel ◽  
Georges Hofman
Keyword(s):  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Soil Nutrient Status

scholarly journals Reliance on Biological Nitrogen Fixation Depletes Soil Phosphorus and Potassium Reserves

2020 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-291
Author(s):  
Marie Reimer ◽  
Tobias Edward Hartmann ◽  
Myles Oelofse ◽  
Jakob Magid ◽  
Else K. Bünemann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Soil Phosphorus ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Nutrient Budgets ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Extractable Soil

AbstractLimited nutrient availability is one of the major challenges in organic farming. Little is known about nutrient budgets of organic farms, the underlying factors or effects on soil fertility. We therefore assessed farm gate nutrient budgets for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and sulfur (S) of 20 organic farms in Germany and analyzed their soil nutri-ent status. In average, the budgets showed a surplus of N (19 kg ha−1), K (5 kg ha−1), S (12 kg ha−1), and Mg (7 kg ha−1), and a deficit of P (−3 kg ha−1). There was, however, high variability between farms (e.g. standard deviation up to ± 36 kg N ha−1), which was mainly explained by different degrees of reliance on biological N fixation (BNF) as N source. When farms obtained more than 60% of their N input through BNF, they had deficits of P (mean −8 kg P ha−1) and K (mean −18 kg K ha−1). Nutrient status of most soils was within the ad-vised corridor, but for P, K and Mg, 10–15% of fields were lower and 45–63% were higher than advised. Extractable soil nutrient contents did not correlate with the nutrient budgets, inputs or outputs. Only extractable soil P increased with increasing P inputs and outputs. Fur-thermore, a decrease in extractable soil P was detected with a prolonged history of organic farming, indicating a risk of soil P mining in organic farming systems. In conclusion, the study revealed nutrient imbalances in organic farming and pointed to P and K scarcity as a major challenge for organic farms with high reliance on BNF in the long term.

scholarly journals Long-term rotation impacts soil total macronutrient levels and wheat response to applied nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur in a Luvisolic soil

2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 430-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miles F. Dyck ◽  
Dick Puurveen
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Fertility Treatments

Over the last 20–30 yr, increased intensification and diversity of crop rotations, along with increasingly higher yielding crop cultivars on the Northern Great Plains, has increased nutrient removal from cropping systems, but also increased crop residues returned to the soil, affecting soil nutrient cycling, soil carbon (C) and nutrient balances. The University of Alberta Breton Classical Plots, established in 1929, consist of two crop rotations of varying diversity and intensity: (1) wheat–fallow (WF); and (2) 5 yr, cereal–forage. Superimposed on these rotations are eight fertility treatments, including a check (control), manure, balanced (NPKS), and nutrient exclusion treatments. Soil total C, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) levels were measured on soil samples (0–15 cm) collected from both rotations in 2013. Wheat yields and N uptake for the 2007–2018 growing seasons from both rotations were compared. In the 5 yr rotation, soil total C, N, and S, wheat yield and wheat N uptake were greater than the WF rotation. Soil total P levels were not different between the two rotations, but soil total K was higher in the WF rotation. Despite higher soil S and comparable soil P, wheat yield and N uptake response to applied P and S was greater in the 5 yr rotation compared with the WF rotation. Response to applied N in the 5 yr rotation was muted because of significant inputs of biologically fixed N. Wheat also responded to applied K in the 5 yr rotation. These results highlight the need to replace exported nutrients.

Rearing the wheat stem sawfly on an artificial diet

2005 ◽  
Vol 137 (4) ◽  
pp. 497-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuilo B. Macedo ◽  
Paula A. Macedo ◽  
Robert K.D. Peterson ◽  
David K. Weaver ◽  
Wendell L. Morrill
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
The United States ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Yield Losses ◽  
Canadian Prairies ◽  
Wheat Stem Sawfly ◽  
Head Weight ◽  
Harvest Efficiency

The wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae), is an insect pest in dryland wheat cropping systems in the southern Canadian Prairies and the northern Great Plains of the United States (Morrill 1997). Yield losses caused by C. cinctus are due to reduced head weight (Holmes 1977; Morrill et al. 1992) and lodging, which decreases harvest efficiency. Estimates of yield losses in Montana alone are about US$25 million per year.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document