University of Guelph researchers build better tools to focus on the relationship between soil health and crop yield
What goes on in the soil at night might surprise a lot of people. It’s not the relaxing, sleepy scene some might imagine. Roots are forcing their way past rocks and a wide assortment of types and sizes of creatures from bacteria, to worms and gophers are on the move. It can be pretty chaotic […] Read moreTag Archives Soil — page 5
Low pH diagnosis a cause for concern
Soil naturally becomes more acidic as it ages, gradually losing the capacity to grow crops as the pH drops. The question is, what can be done about it? “It’s a natural process,” said Don Flaten, a soil scientist at the University of Manitoba. “Soils acidify with age as water percolates through them.” Flaten said old […] Read more
Earth moving boosts productivity
What goes down should go up | Sloped fields can experience tillage erosion unless soil is shifted from the bottom to the top
CALGARY — Soil movement from higher spots to lower spots in a field lowers production potential and increases variability. What can be done about it? University of Manitoba soil scientist David Lobb has numerous suggestions, the most drastic of which is to move soil from the bottom of slopes back to the top. Lobb told […] Read more
Slope sensor’s quick response to pitch speeds tile drainage
HARWOOD, N.D. — Tile draining a quarter section, only to find it doesn’t work as expected, is a heartbreaking and budget busting experience. A ballpark figure for tile drain on the Prairies is $400 to $600 per acre. With the pipe buried one to two metres below the surface, digging and correcting thousands of metres […] Read more
New liquid seed treatment uses zinc to boost wheat emergence, yields
Placing nutrients as close to the seed as possible without risking damage has been the Holy Grail of fertility specialists for decades. Placing some of that nutrient right on the seed surface might be the ultimate solution, especially when dealing with micro-nutrients most essential to germination and early plant development. Awaken ST, a liquid seed […] Read more
