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Evaluation of a soil quality test kit for Alberta [report]

Description

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Soil Quality Test Kit under a variety of Alberta soil... More ≫

Description

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Soil Quality Test Kit under a variety of Alberta soil conditions. The kit was utilized in three different locations in the province to determine if the soil quality indicators measured by the field test kit are responsive to various soil management practices and to compare the results to those produced by standard analytical procedures. Results indicate that the test kit was able to detect differences between management practices in eight of eleven soil indicators measured. Significantly different results were found between soil analyzed by the test kit and standard methods for three tests that could be compared. Although differences were detected, the interpretation of the results is similar. The test kit was sensitive to changes in soil properties due to management and was able to identify potential problem areas in the fields tested. The kit was...

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Comparison of alternative mechanical & chemical top-kill methods for seed potatoes

Description

Seed potato is a high value crop with considerable potential in the prairie provinces. Top-killing of the plant foliage prior to harvest induces tuber maturity and accelerates skin set, making the... More ≫

Description

Seed potato is a high value crop with considerable potential in the prairie provinces. Top-killing of the plant foliage prior to harvest induces tuber maturity and accelerates skin set, making the potatoes more resistant to disease and spoilage during storage. Top-killing can be achieved through chemical or mechanical means, or a combination of both. This research update reports on results of comparisons of the performance of two styles of mechanical shredders when used in combination with various treatments with Reglone.

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Hog manure as a fertilizer in the gray soil zone

Description

Research in the Brown, Dark Brown, and Black soil zones of Saskatchewan has shown that swine manure is an excellent, sustainable source of fertilizing annual crops. This research update reports on... More ≫

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Research in the Brown, Dark Brown, and Black soil zones of Saskatchewan has shown that swine manure is an excellent, sustainable source of fertilizing annual crops. This research update reports on testing of swine manure as a fertilizer in the low organic matter Gray soil zone. Results show annual applications of liquid swine manure produced good annual crop yields with no evidence of soil nutrient buildup or leaching.

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Soil quality monitoring programs : a literature review

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This review is a compilation of 52 environmental/soil monitoring programs from around the world. An emphasis was placed on finding programs currently operating or those operational within the last... More ≫

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This review is a compilation of 52 environmental/soil monitoring programs from around the world. An emphasis was placed on finding programs currently operating or those operational within the last two decades, which repeatedly monitor the soil resource in some capacity, without imposing agronomic treatments. Programs were researched using computerized database searches, bibliographic references and through use of the Internet. The soil related information is summarized into tables, which contain extensive information describing each monitoring program, including management, program lifespan, ecosystem monitored, variables monitored, sampling sites, soil sampling interval, data uses and trends and parameters measured. The discussion includes analysis of the information tables and serves as a summary of the various approaches to repeated monitoring of environmental and soil components. A comparison of the AESA Soil Quality Benchmark Program to the other programs was carried out.

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Bloat in cattle

Description

This publication provides information on the causes, control and treatment of bloat in cattle and is intended for livestock producers, veterinarians, and agrologists. The authors have observed... More ≫

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This publication provides information on the causes, control and treatment of bloat in cattle and is intended for livestock producers, veterinarians, and agrologists. The authors have observed bloat produced under experimental conditions by feeding fresh alfalfa and bloat-causing feedlot diets. Bloat has also been observed under grazing conditions on alfalfa pastures. Although the information in this publication is oriented around livestock production in western Canada, the general principles are widely applicable, and the publication should provide valuable information for other regions. Bloat is a complex disease that is difficult to predict under field conditions. As a result, field observations have led to varied and conflicting theories about its causes. This publication presents well-established facts and consistent field observations based on collective experience. Recommendations are made on this basis and on research reports, general observations and on the experience of...

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Mid row band or side band? An agronomic comparison of mid row banding and side banding systems

Description

There has been a dramatic shift in farming practices with the move to one-pass, low-disturbance direct seeding systems. Direct seeding equipment has evolved rapidly to meet the challenging... More ≫

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There has been a dramatic shift in farming practices with the move to one-pass, low-disturbance direct seeding systems. Direct seeding equipment has evolved rapidly to meet the challenging seeding/fertilizing needs of prairie farmers. Two systems, mid row band and side band, are both popular. The objective of the project reported on in this research update was to provide an agronomic comparison of mid row band/side brand seeding and fertilizing systems. Results show that neither system outperformed the other, and both provided excellent agronomic results.

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Preliminary analyses of five years of soil data from the AESA soil quality benchmark sites

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The AESA (Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture) Soil Quality Benchmark Program was established in 1998 to provide a monitoring network across Alberta. From each of 43 ecodistricts... More ≫

Description

The AESA (Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture) Soil Quality Benchmark Program was established in 1998 to provide a monitoring network across Alberta. From each of 43 ecodistricts within seven ecoregions, one site was chosen to represent the soil-landscape patterns and agronomic practices of that ecodistrict. The sites are within farmers' fields and subject to the farmers' management practices. Soil topographic sequences (upper, mid and lower slope positions) are monitored at each site. Samples taken in 2002 represent the fifth consecutive year of monitoring. Although the overall objective of the benchmarks is to serve as a cross validation dataset across Alberta for soil quality modeling, changes in soil quality over time and the effects of management and soil/landscapes can also be monitored. Paper presented to the 40th Annual Alberta Soil Science Workshop, February 18-20, 2003, Edmonton, Alberta.

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Evaluation of a soil quality test kit for Alberta [paper]

Description

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the Unites States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Soil Quality Test Kit in three areas of Alberta with a variety... More ≫

Description

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the Unites States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Soil Quality Test Kit in three areas of Alberta with a variety of management systems. Results indicate that the test kit was able to detect differences between management practices and results compared well to standard laboratory analysis of the same soil. The test kit has the potential to be a valuable tool to raise the awareness of soil quality issues in Alberta. Paper presented to the 40th Annual Alberta Soil Science Workshop, February 18-20, 2003, Edmonton, Alberta.

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Benchmark site documentation : 04-AB (Mundare, Alberta)

Description

The purpose of this report is to chronicle the baseline soil features of the Mundare (04-AB) Benchmark Site, thereby providing a technical reference document in support of on-going monitoring... More ≫

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The purpose of this report is to chronicle the baseline soil features of the Mundare (04-AB) Benchmark Site, thereby providing a technical reference document in support of on-going monitoring research and reporting. The Mundare site is one of 23 benchmark-monitoring sites established across Canada by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to collect baseline data to monitor trends in soil quality. It represents Black soils of the Aspen Parkland Ecoregion. The landscape is representative of the undulating to ridged and hummocky morainal terrain that is common in central Alberta.

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First research trial of a draper pickup on a round baler

Description

The primary goal in making alfalfa bales is to keep the leaves in the bale. Reducing leaf loss is important because about 70 per cent of an alfalfa plant’s protein is in the leaves. This project... More ≫

Description

The primary goal in making alfalfa bales is to keep the leaves in the bale. Reducing leaf loss is important because about 70 per cent of an alfalfa plant’s protein is in the leaves. This project sought to deliver an easy method of adapting a draper pickup to a baler, and reducing the amount of leaves lost during baling. The project results proved that adapting the draper header to a round baler was possible and that under some field conditions there was a five per cent advantage in feed value by using the draper. The advantages are significant enough to warrant more work on this concept.

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