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Nutrient beneficial management practices evaluation project. Volume 2 : field study

Description

Numerous beneficial management practices (BMPs) have been developed and promoted to minimize the impacts of agriculture on the environment and increase the sustainability of the agricultural... More ≫

Description

Numerous beneficial management practices (BMPs) have been developed and promoted to minimize the impacts of agriculture on the environment and increase the sustainability of the agricultural industry. However, the effectiveness of BMPs under Alberta conditions is not well known. This study evaluates the effectiveness of nutrient BMPs on water quality improvement in prime agricultural regions in Alberta, at field and watershed scales, in order to provide viable options for sustainable agriculture and water quality protection.

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Nutrient beneficial management practices evaluation project. Volume 1 : summary and recommendations.

Description

This resource provides the conclusions and recommendations of the Nutrient Beneficial Management Practices Evaluation Project, a six-year research project (2007-2012) to evaluate nutrient... More ≫

Description

This resource provides the conclusions and recommendations of the Nutrient Beneficial Management Practices Evaluation Project, a six-year research project (2007-2012) to evaluate nutrient beneficial management practices at field and watershed scales in Alberta. Beneficial management practices are defined as conservation practices, management techniques, or social actions that minimize potential negative effects on the environment while being practical for producers to meet or exceed regulatory requirements and meet production targets.

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Nutrient beneficial management practices evaluation project. Volume 3 : modelling study

Description

The Nutrient Beneficial Management Practices Evaluation Project was a six-year research project (2007-2012) to evaluate nutrient beneficial management practices at field and watershed scales in... More ≫

Description

The Nutrient Beneficial Management Practices Evaluation Project was a six-year research project (2007-2012) to evaluate nutrient beneficial management practices at field and watershed scales in Alberta. This resource, Volume 3 in the final report on the project, presents the results of the modelling study. The Comprehensive Economic and Environmental Optimization Tool was used as the model.

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Agricultural soil compaction : causes and management

Description

Compaction of soil is the compression of soil particles into a smaller volume, which reduces the size of pore space available for air and water. Soil compaction can be a serious and unnecessary... More ≫

Description

Compaction of soil is the compression of soil particles into a smaller volume, which reduces the size of pore space available for air and water. Soil compaction can be a serious and unnecessary form of soil degradation that can result in increased soil erosion and decreased crop production. This fact sheet discusses the importance of soil porosity, looks at several different types of soil compaction that may occur, and outlines best management practices to prevent soil compaction.

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Management of sodic soils in Alberta

Description

Sodic soils have relatively high sodium levels. In many situations, sodic soils are best left in the native state or seeded to a tolerant forage crop. Often, the highest agricultural use of sodic... More ≫

Description

Sodic soils have relatively high sodium levels. In many situations, sodic soils are best left in the native state or seeded to a tolerant forage crop. Often, the highest agricultural use of sodic soils is for carefully managed livestock grazing. If reclamation is considered, it is recommended that producers work with a knowledgeable agrologist with expertise in soil science and salt-affected soils. The first step to improving management is to correctly diagnose the soil problem by proper intensive soil sampling and analysis. If sodic soil conditions are diagnosed and reclamation is considered, a detailed soil analysis is needed for electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio, exchangeable sodium, free lime, soil pH and cation exchange capacity.

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Controlling field pea diseases in direct seeding systems

Description

Of all the crops seeded on the prairies, field peas are often said to be the most easily adapted to direct seeding. For this reason, a large percentage of the pea acreage is direct seeded. Whether... More ≫

Description

Of all the crops seeded on the prairies, field peas are often said to be the most easily adapted to direct seeding. For this reason, a large percentage of the pea acreage is direct seeded. Whether in a direct or conventional seeding system, the field pea crop requires close observation for disease throughout the growing season. Several economically important diseases can affect field peas.

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Estimating the value of crop residues

Description

Crop residues - straw plus chaff - are the byproducts of harvesting annual grain crops. Retaining crop residues on a field improves or maintains soil quality and moisture. The economic value of... More ≫

Description

Crop residues - straw plus chaff - are the byproducts of harvesting annual grain crops. Retaining crop residues on a field improves or maintains soil quality and moisture. The economic value of retaining or removing crop residues from the field depends on the following: present level of soil organic matter; field's soil erosion risk; nutrient levels in the residues and soil; soil's moisture content; value of using the residues for other purposes such as bedding, coarse feed or industrial uses such as fibreboard; effects of any problems caused by poorly spread or heavy residues (such as the need for extra field operations)

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Crop rotations in direct seeding

Description

Crop rotations are a vital part of direct seeding systems. Rotations maximize the benefits of moisture conservation and reduce the impacts of diseases, weeds and insect pests.

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