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Ammonia volatilization from manure application

Description

The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide producers and farm managers with information that will help quantify the amount of ammonia loss that occurs when they apply manure on land. It also... More ≫

Description

The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide producers and farm managers with information that will help quantify the amount of ammonia loss that occurs when they apply manure on land. It also provides them with information regarding the factors that positively and negatively affect these losses. The fact sheet is also a good source of information on best management practices producers could use to mitigate and control ammonia losses from the land application of manure.

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Manure application and nutrient balance on rangeland

Description

Manure application on native rangeland is not a recommended practice. Native rangelands are very fragile, with diverse eco-systems that have taken centuries to evolve to their present day steady... More ≫

Description

Manure application on native rangeland is not a recommended practice. Native rangelands are very fragile, with diverse eco-systems that have taken centuries to evolve to their present day steady state. In summary, the productivity of rangeland is self-maintained. Plant nutrients are naturally recycled and reused, but remain in equilibrium. When manure is applied beyond what is naturally applied by grazing animals, the natural self-sustaining system is disrupted.

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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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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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Home composting : how to build and maintain a composting bin

Description

Home composting is a way of recycling kitchen and yard wastes safely and simply in your own back yard. Composting speeds up the natural breakdown of organic material into particles and nutrients.... More ≫

Description

Home composting is a way of recycling kitchen and yard wastes safely and simply in your own back yard. Composting speeds up the natural breakdown of organic material into particles and nutrients. These particles and nutrients contribute to better growing conditions for plants by breaking up heavy soils, increasing soil nutrient content and helping soil retain air and water.

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Soil organic matter

Description

The cultivation of prairie soils has generally resulted in a decline in organic matter of 30 to 50 per cent. A product of this decline has been the release of large amounts of plant nutrients,... More ≫

Description

The cultivation of prairie soils has generally resulted in a decline in organic matter of 30 to 50 per cent. A product of this decline has been the release of large amounts of plant nutrients, particularly nitrogen. Crop rotations with a high frequency of summerfallow have relied on the nitrogen released from soil organic matter to supply crop requirements. More frequent or continuous cropping, less frequent tillage, the production of high yields and the return of crop residues will help to maintain soil organic matter at a satisfactory level. Perennial forages are effective for maintaining or increasing soil organic matter.

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