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Beneficial management practices : environmental manual for crop producers in Alberta

Description

This manual was prepared for Alberta crop producers to create greater understanding of beneficial environmental practices for crop production. It was developed through the cooperation of... More ≫

Description

This manual was prepared for Alberta crop producers to create greater understanding of beneficial environmental practices for crop production. It was developed through the cooperation of government, industry, and interested stakeholders. Information presented in this manual is based on the best available research data and years of experience. The manual provides a range of management options so producers can choose those alternatives best suited to their own operation.

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Sustainable crop rotations for Alberta's brown soil zone

Description

In the Brown soil zone of southeastern Alberta, summerfallow and a monoculture wheat systems are the primary cropping practice. However, the long-term environmental sustainability of cropping... More ≫

Description

In the Brown soil zone of southeastern Alberta, summerfallow and a monoculture wheat systems are the primary cropping practice. However, the long-term environmental sustainability of cropping systems that include summerfallow remains in question. This fact sheet summarizes the results of a study that was undertaken to determine the effects of different cropping practices on soil quality in the long-term, and to determine the economic performance of several crop rotation alternatives in the Brown soil zone.

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Grasshopper management

Description

Grasshoppers are a major pest of both cultivated crops and rangeland grasses in the world’s semi-arid regions. Traditionally drier areas like southern Alberta are more prone to recurring problems,... More ≫

Description

Grasshoppers are a major pest of both cultivated crops and rangeland grasses in the world’s semi-arid regions. Traditionally drier areas like southern Alberta are more prone to recurring problems, but serious grasshopper infestations can occur in cropland throughout the province. Although the majority of grasshopper damage has been to cereal grains, other crops can be seriously affected. This fact sheet provides information on significant species of grasshoppers in Alberta, including each specie’s significant food supply. Information is also provide on grasshopper control and the economic threshold at which control measures become viable.

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Evaluation of the anti-oxidant ethylene diurea (EDU) as a protectant against ozone effects on crops (growth chamber trials)

Description

Results of a field study conducted in the summer of 2000 showed that when the antioxidant ethylene diurea (EDU) was applied to crops, there were increases in several parameters. The next step was... More ≫

Description

Results of a field study conducted in the summer of 2000 showed that when the antioxidant ethylene diurea (EDU) was applied to crops, there were increases in several parameters. The next step was to verify whether the effects of EDU resulted from EDU-mediated protection against ozone or from plant growth promoting effects of EDU that are independent of ozone. A series of controlled environment trials were designed to test this hypothesis.

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2001 census of agriculture for Alberta : I. D. , M. D. , and county data by land-use region

Description

This publication presents farm data taken from the 2001 Census of Agriculture, conducted on May 15, 2001. The data is specific to Alberta, and unlike an earlier spring release by Statistics... More ≫

Description

This publication presents farm data taken from the 2001 Census of Agriculture, conducted on May 15, 2001. The data is specific to Alberta, and unlike an earlier spring release by Statistics Canada, targets a lower level of geography, namely, county, municipality, and improvement district. The data for this lower level of geography was obtained through a special custom run from Statistics Canada.

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Evaluation of the anti-oxidant ethylene diurea (EDU) as a protectant against ozone effects on crops (field trials)

Description

Ozone is an important phytotoxic gaseous pollutant and is known or suspected to cause injury in crops, including yield reductions. Studies have been conducted using the antioxidant EDU (ethylene... More ≫

Description

Ozone is an important phytotoxic gaseous pollutant and is known or suspected to cause injury in crops, including yield reductions. Studies have been conducted using the antioxidant EDU (ethylene diurea) in programs aimed at the quantification of the effects of ozone on vegetation. For the present study, a protocol making use of EDU as an antioxidant was designed and implemented at a site near the city limits of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, an area having elevated ozone levels relative to other areas of the province.

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Ozone protection in plants : the potential use of chemical protectants to measure atmospheric oxidant damage in Alberta crops

Description

This report was commissioned to provide a review and interpretation of the scientific literature that describes the use and effects of chemical ozone protectants. The authors of this report were... More ≫

Description

This report was commissioned to provide a review and interpretation of the scientific literature that describes the use and effects of chemical ozone protectants. The authors of this report were asked to determine if there was sufficient information available on these substances to warrant a field evaluation of their use. This was done as part of Alberta Environment's efforts to determine if ozone has the potential to cause negative (or positive) effects on plants in the province, with a focus on agricultural crops.

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Natural enemies of field crop insect pests in Alberta

Description

This fact sheet describes some of the pathogens (diseases), insect predators and parasites attacking field crop insect pests. Natural enemies are those organisms that help control population... More ≫

Description

This fact sheet describes some of the pathogens (diseases), insect predators and parasites attacking field crop insect pests. Natural enemies are those organisms that help control population levels of pest insects. Predatory insects, such as the lady beetles, eat many prey insects during their development. Lady beetles are just one example of the many different insects that prey, in both larval and adult stages, on other insects. Blister beetles, on the other hand, are predacious only as larvae; the adults are foliage feeders.

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Crop nutrition and fertilizer requirements

Description

Proper nutrition is essential for satisfactory crop growth and production. The use of soil tests can help to determine the status of plant available nutrients to develop fertilizer recommendations... More ≫

Description

Proper nutrition is essential for satisfactory crop growth and production. The use of soil tests can help to determine the status of plant available nutrients to develop fertilizer recommendations to achieve optimum crop production. The profit potential for farmers depends on producing enough crop per acre to keep production costs below the selling price. Efficient application of the correct types and amounts of fertilizers for the supply of nutrients is an important part of achieving profitable yields.

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Micronutrient requirements of crops

Description

The need for micronutrients in crop production have long been recognized in Alberta. Zinc deficiencies in irrigated beans in southern Alberta were detected in the early 1980s. Research by Alberta... More ≫

Description

The need for micronutrients in crop production have long been recognized in Alberta. Zinc deficiencies in irrigated beans in southern Alberta were detected in the early 1980s. Research by Alberta Agriculture and Agriculture Canada has clearly shown the need for copper fertilizer particularly for wheat grown on organic soils and on some Black and Grey-Black soils in central Alberta. One million acres may be copper deficient in central Alberta. Some suspected manganese deficiencies are presently being investigated. Continued research and testing is required to identify when various crops will give economic yield increases to additions of micronutrient fertilizers.

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