Up to 17 per cent of cropland around the globe is contaminated by toxic metals, threatening agriculture and human health in the affected areas, according to new research published in the journal Science.
Tag Archives soil
Cropland threatened by toxic metals: study
Up to 17 per cent of agricultural land at risk
Saskatchewan farm making compost pellets for added fertilizer
After years of trials, Kyle Heggie thinks his system is crop-ready
Kyle Heggie has been spreading a unique blend of compost on his crops for years, and has also used on-farm trials to test the practicality of mid-row banding compost “pellets” into the seed row next to the seed.
It may be time for lime on acid soils
Liming may be an expensive option — but it’s the only proven method to raise soil pH
Acidic soil can plague crop producers with nutrient deficiencies and poor root growth, leading to reduced yields. Lime can be expensive, but may pencil out as the most important fertilizer treatment for those soils.
Do farmers need to apply sulphur to their crops every year?
Research suggests this important nutrient hangs around a lot longer than farmers think
“In terms of the reactions with some of the other elements of the soil, particularly in soils that have a lot of calcium, it hangs around a lot longer than we think it does.”
Soil pH levels can help make seeding decisions
The pH scale is exponential, so small changes in pH mean big shifts in acidity or alkalinity
Small changes in pH reflect significant shifts in acidity or alkalinity due to the exponential nature of the scale.
Peer groups are a pathway to improved soil health
A variety of organizations have developed programs that allow producers to learn more about taking care of their soil
A variety of organizations have developed programs that allow producers to learn more about taking care of their soil.
Soil organic matter and carbon sequestration
Changes in cropping practices over time have significantly improved soil quality
Prairie farmers have done an excellent job shifting to direct seeding, continuous cropping, using much more diverse crop rotations and fertilizing crops adequately, along with various other good agronomy practices. This has very positively improved soil organic matter levels and improved soil health across all the soil zones of the Prairies.
Regenerative agriculture requires change, but there are benefits
Economic and practical barriers exist when adopting these practices at scale
The first step in making that shift happen is simply understanding that the soil is alive, Ray Archuleta says — a concept he doesn’t believe the majority of farmers understand or appreciate.
Saskatchewan grain farmer sees benefits of integrating cattle
Lance Walker finds his cattle now serve in roles previously handled by farm equipment
Lance Walker and his family decided to integrate cattle to provide a natural cycle of regeneration, and he believes they have been successful in this and have achieved numerous other benefits.
Understanding phosphorus, part 3: Developing fertilizer recommendations
Agronomy Management: It’s important to have adequate P close to the seed during the first six weeks of growth
Part 3 of 3. Prairie farmers spend over $1 billion annually on phosphate fertilizer; these three articles will hopefully assist with a better understanding of how soil P functions in soil, soil testing for P and then how to develop wise phosphate fertilizer recommendations.
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