Better nitrogen management promises to both protect crop yields and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer. New research looks to verify how much difference it actually makes.
Tag Archives Nitrogen cycle
Cutting the nitrous oxide emissions without losing yields
Better nitrogen management promises to both protect crop yields and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer; new research looks to verify how much difference it actually makes
Why soybeans need inoculant and how some crops fix nitrogen without it
Plus, never do this with inoculant
Next to water, nitrogen is usually the most limiting nutrient in crop production. In prairie agriculture, by far the major source of fixed nitrogen for crop production is nitrogen produced industrially via the Haber process. But nitrogen fixation by legumes is also a very important economic factor in world agriculture. The nitrogen-fixing family of plants, […] Read more
Promise of self-fertilizing attracts investment
Bayer bets big on a future where crops are designed to fertilizer themselves
There are a lot of efforts underway to optimize and minimize fertilizer use in crop production. Precision agriculture tools are improving the accuracy of where fertilizer is placed so that as much of it as possible reaches the plants that need it. And researchers from at least two Canadian universities — Ottawa’s Carleton University and […] Read more
The future of broadcasting nitrogen in the fall
The inefficient practice is on the rise; however limits may be on the way in Manitoba
Broadcasting in fall is the quickest and easiest way to apply nitrogen — and the least efficient. So why, anecdotally at least, does the practice seem to be on the increase? Bigger farms and a shortage of labour could be part of it. Moreover, nobody knows when poor weather will shut down field operations. And […] Read more
New bacteria enhance N-fixing performance
Natural soil molecules recruited to help increase pulse crop growth and yield
BASF Canada and Monsanto BioAg have both added different naturally occurring soil bacteria to pulse crop inoculants to enhance the nitrogen fixing capability and growth of pea and lentil crops. Pulsea crop growers are no doubt familiar with BASF’s Nodulator and Monsanto BioAG’s TagTeam pulse crop inoculants. They’ve been around for years. For the 2018 […] Read more
Beneficial bacteria getting close
New products may promote plant growth and protect crops from disease
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria are present in the root nodules of the majority of legumes, like soybeans and alfalfa. Other “beneficial bacteria” can be found in symbiotic relationships with crop plants that promote growth, increase stress or pest resistance, or increase nutrient solubility. Only in recent years have scientists been able to point to specific bacteria that […] Read more
Fertilizer expert discourages winter application
While winter application can even out workload, losses are high and pollution is a risk
Considering how the 2016 growing/harvest season went, there may be a real crunch this spring to first find and then get fertilizer applied at seeding, but if you’re thinking it might be a good idea to get a jump on workload and apply fertilizer this winter on snow or frozen ground — DON’T. That’s the advice […] Read more
In-crop nitrogen fertilizer application
Agronomy Management: In-crop N application is becoming more popular. But is it a good fit for your farm?
Many farmers in Western Canada band their nitrogen (N) fertilizer before seeding or place all fertilizer in a side or mid-row band at the time of planting for their cereal and oilseed crops. Both are very sound practices. After seeding, most of the N fertilizer will slowly convert from ammonium nitrate (NH4+) to nitrate nitrogen (NO3-), the form […] Read more
Applying your nitrogen in the fall
Agronomy Management: Fall application can be more convenient, but effectiveness varies, depending on conditions
Applying nitrogen fertilizer at the time of planting in spring is usually the best option for most Prairie farmers. But that means applying a lot of product, which can really slow down the seeding process. Getting the seed in the ground at the optimum time is important, and delays can reduce crop yield potential. Some […] Read more
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