Manure good for eroded soils
Work at the Lethbridge research station suggests a continuous supply of phosphorus is an important strategy to restore the productivity of eroded, lime-rich soils.
Animal manures seem to be more effective than commercial fertilizers for this purpose.
Phosphorus deficiencies in plants on eroded farmland are usually caused by the high lime content of these soils. With commercial phosphorus fertilizers, the lime “ties up” or “fixes” large amounts of the water-soluble fertilizer phosphorus.
After a short time, most of the added phosphorus is transformed into compounds that are unavailable to crops.
Read Also
VIDEO: Green Lightning and Nytro Ag win sustainability innovation award
Nytro Ag Corp and Green Lightning recieved an innovation award at Ag in Motion 2025 for the Green Lightning Nitrogen Machine, which converts atmospheric nitrogen into a plant-usable form.
The phosphorus in manures is mostly organic. It can readily be broken down to inorganic or simple organic forms that are available to the crop, so the size and diversity of the available phosphorus “pool” in soils increases when manured.
However, it isn’t known why phosphorus in manure is not as readily fixed by the lime. The rate of phosphorus release from manures may be slower and roots of plants may be able to take up the phosphorus before it is fixed.
Alternatively, some of the organic compounds in manures may block phosphorus-fixing. It is also possible a compound released when manure breaks down may help plants use soil phosphorus more efficiently.
- Agriculture Canada
A new tree for shelter belts
Sea-buckthorn is an attractive, multi-purpose shrub that is well-suited to the Prairies.
An introduced species from Eurasia, this large shrub tolerates drought, salinity and weather extremes. The leaves are narrow and silvery-green and the shoots contain many short spines. Distinctive yellow-
orange clusters of berries ripen in late
August and stay on the shrub through the winter.
Sea-buckthorn reaches a height of two to five metres (six to 16 feet), suckers profusely and lives up to 40 years. It is adapted to a wide range of soil types and performs well on drained, sandy soils and steep slopes. The shrub also fixes its own nitrogen.
Due to its dense, thorny nature, sea-buckthorn provides excellent nesting sites and cover from predators for many forms of wildlife. Browsing animals eat the shrubs, leaves, bark and twigs during the winter and the berries are food for bird and mammals.
Sea-buckthorn is also suited for small-scale fruit processing. The berry has a high vitamin C content and oil extracted from the seed can be used in cosmetics, dyes and as a medicinal treatment.
The shrub is available from the PFRA Shelterbelt Centre in Indian Head at 306-695-2284.
- Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration
