Field research in Saskatchewan is adding clarity to the often cloudy relationship between higher canaryseed yields and potassium chloride applications.
Bill May, a researcher from Agriculture Canada’s research centre at Indian Head, Sask., says recent findings suggest that chloride, rather than potassium, is more likely to generate a yield response in canaryseed.
Speaking to canaryseed growers in Saskatoon in January, May said researchers have wondered for some time whether it was potassium or chloride that generated higher yields.
He said preliminary research conducted several years ago suggested that in some locations, canaryseed responded well to potassium chloride, while at others, the response was minimal or nonexistent.
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As well, at sites that produced a positive yield response, it was unclear which component of potassium chloride was more beneficial.
Research findings now suggest chloride is the magic ingredient.
In research conducted at four production sites, yields were consistently higher in plots that received chloride supplements.
Plots that received supplemental potassium showed minimal yield response or none at all.
“Canaryseed responds to chloride,” May said.
“We saw a strong response (on alluvial soils and Oxbow loam) south of Indian Head and a varied response on heavy clay soils.
“And where we’re seeing the yield response is in seeds per sq. metre or seeds per head.… It’s not vegetative growth. It’s not vegetative production. In fact, you won’t be able to see (the difference) until the crop starts heading. Then it gets a lot more obvious. Then we see big yield differences.”
At one research site, grain yields on plots that were treated with potassium chloride or calcium chloride exceeded 600 pounds per acre.
At the same location, plots treated with potassium sulfate yielded less than 200 lb. per acre, as did untreated plots.
Yields increased to 8,000 seeds per sq. metre on plots with chloride from 2,000 seeds per sq. metre on plots without chloride.
“This was on an alluvial soil so it’s not what you would typically grow canaryseed on, but it’s very easy to see that we were getting some substantial yield increases on this site,” May said.
“You can also see that the potassium sulfate isn’t getting any response, so that proves that it is a chloride response that we are looking at.”
May said yield responses on heavy, clay soil on the Regina Plains and near Stewart Valley in southwestern Saskatchewan were smaller, but there was still a response.
He said more study is required to determine which types of soil are most suited to supplemental chloride treatments and whether residual chloride levels in soil would negate the need for supplemental chloride.
“We are unable to tell you right now the exact residual level of chloride that you need to get a response,” May said.
“We need to do more work on that.”
Yield responses also varied between hairy and hairless varieties.
For example, yield increases in Togo, a hairless variety, appears to be considerably higher on alluvial soils and loam than yield responses in Keet, a hairy variety.
However, more research is also required in this area before definitive conclusions can be reached.
May said canaryseed growers interested in assisting with the research can take part in field scale trials planned this year. They should have a weigh wagon, yield monitors or a GPS system.
“I’d really like to talk to anyone who’s interested in doing a field scale trial because we need a lot more fields to get a better handle on who’s getting a yield response and who’s not.”
Interested growers can contact May at 306-695-5225 or by e-mail at william.may@agr.gc.ca.
A summary of May’s research findings are available on-line at www.cropweek.com/presentations/
2010/2010-jan11-canary-may.pdf.
Funding was provided by Saskatchewan Agriculture, Agriculture Canada, the Canaryseed Development Commission of Saskatchewan, the International Plant Nutrients Institute and Agrium.
