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Grassed waterway construction

Description

Grassed waterways are broad, shallow channels that carry surface runoff with a minimum of erosion. Natural waterways are easily seeded to forages, either grass or grass-legume mixtures, to prevent... More ≫

Description

Grassed waterways are broad, shallow channels that carry surface runoff with a minimum of erosion. Natural waterways are easily seeded to forages, either grass or grass-legume mixtures, to prevent severe soil loss and gully formation. These waterways are constructed with uniform grades to gradually carry water down slopes and with flat bottoms to spread the water out and slow it. The vegetation in the channel retards the flow and provides a more durable channel surface that resists the soil cutting action of water. With proper fertilization and maintenance, a grassed waterway can be a productive forage area. Reshaping and grassing a gully allows easy access and crossing for machinery.

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Wood ash : an alternative liming material for agricultural soils

Description

Many forestry facilities in Alberta use bark, sawdust and yard waste, commonly referred to as "hogfuel," to generate steam, electricity and heat for plant operations. There are also several... More ≫

Description

Many forestry facilities in Alberta use bark, sawdust and yard waste, commonly referred to as "hogfuel," to generate steam, electricity and heat for plant operations. There are also several facilities that use hogfuel as an energy source to generate electricity. More than 180,000 tonnes of energy system wood ash produced annually at pulp mills, sawmills, oriented strand board and fibre board plants is currently disposed of in industrial or regional landfills.

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AESA soil quality benchmark sites. Soil organic matter

Description

Analysis of soil organic matter (SOM), conducted on the AESA Soil Quality Benchmark sites, has revealed some significant differences in the per cent of organic carbon and total nitrogen in... More ≫

Description

Analysis of soil organic matter (SOM), conducted on the AESA Soil Quality Benchmark sites, has revealed some significant differences in the per cent of organic carbon and total nitrogen in Alberta's agricultural ecoregions, depending on soil horizon and slope positions. Because SOM varies between ecoregions, and within a single field based on slope position, the assessment of SOM is very site-specific. The study findings highlight the importance of conserving high SOM levels in soils and identify some ways farmers can do this.

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Salt tolerance of plants

Description

Plant species vary in how well they tolerate salt-affected soils. Some plants will tolerate high levels of salinity while others can tolerate little or no salinity. This brief fact sheet looks at... More ≫

Description

Plant species vary in how well they tolerate salt-affected soils. Some plants will tolerate high levels of salinity while others can tolerate little or no salinity. This brief fact sheet looks at how soil salinity is measured and categorized, and then presents a table delineating the salt tolerance of various types of plants, including field crops, forages, vegetables, and trees and shrubs.

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Controlling quack grass in direct seeding systems

Description

Quack grass can reduce crop yields if it is not controlled. This weed is most common in the higher moisture regions of Alberta and has the potential to increase under direct seeding unless... More ≫

Description

Quack grass can reduce crop yields if it is not controlled. This weed is most common in the higher moisture regions of Alberta and has the potential to increase under direct seeding unless actively managed. Effective herbicidal control options are numerous in broad-leaved crops. In canola, herbicide-tolerant varieties offer additional herbicide options. In wheat, quack grass can be suppressed with Sundance or Anthem. In-crop control options for barley are limited. Glyphosate offers pre-seeding, pre-harvest and post-harvest control options and provides the basis for limiting the expansion of quack grass.

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Dryland saline seeps : types and causes

Description

Soil salinity can restrict plant growth and reduce crop yields. The high salt concentration in a saline seep prevents the uptake of water and essential nutrients by plant roots. Various measures... More ≫

Description

Soil salinity can restrict plant growth and reduce crop yields. The high salt concentration in a saline seep prevents the uptake of water and essential nutrients by plant roots. Various measures are used to control and reduce the flow of groundwater that leads to dryland saline seep formation. This fact sheet provides an overview of saline seep formation and how to recognize it, discusses salinity classification, and briefly identifies the main methods of controlling soil salinity.

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Equipment issues in crop residue management for direct seeding

Description

Uniform and wide distribution of straw and chaff residues is essential in direct seeding systems. You must spread residues evenly to avoid or reduce problems such as: equipment plugging; poor seed... More ≫

Description

Uniform and wide distribution of straw and chaff residues is essential in direct seeding systems. You must spread residues evenly to avoid or reduce problems such as: equipment plugging; poor seed placement; disease, weed and insect infestations; nutrient tie-up; and cold soil under straw piles and heavy residue mats.

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Copper deficiency : diagnosis and correction

Description

Cu deficiencies exist across the Canadian prairies in particular as well as south into the adjoining American states. Crop yield and quality losses in Alberta alone in both wheat and barley has... More ≫

Description

Cu deficiencies exist across the Canadian prairies in particular as well as south into the adjoining American states. Crop yield and quality losses in Alberta alone in both wheat and barley has run into tens of millions of dollars annually. Copper deficiency is a simple problem that can be corrected in most instances with a single application of granular copper-based fertilizer. The effects of this single application can last for up to 10 years or more. Foliar applications of copper fertilizer have to be applied annually to cereal crops growing on copper deficient land. Thousands of provincial producers from Fort Vermillion to Milk River have now seen modest to spectacular yield and quality gains from copper applications on their wheat and barley crops.

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Controlling canola insect pests in direct seeding systems

Description

Insect pest management in canola requires field scouting and accurate, frequent monitoring regardless of whether conventional or direct seeding systems are used.›

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Controlling wheat diseases in direct seeding systems

Description

Disease control in wheat requires good agronomic practices whether conventional or direct seeding systems are used. Weather conditions and crop rotations are much more important factors than the... More ≫

Description

Disease control in wheat requires good agronomic practices whether conventional or direct seeding systems are used. Weather conditions and crop rotations are much more important factors than the amount of tillage in determining disease occurrence and intensity.

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