Fertility
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Signs of sulphur shortages
Fertility
We heard two reports this week of sulphur deficiency symptoms. One situation was the result of other early-season pressures – delayed emergence and flea beetles – and was solved as the plants grew bigger.
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Seeding-time decisions to improve profit
Fertility
Marketing and environmental challenges often have farmers reviewing ways to best-manage inputs to improve profits. Here are common agronomy practices that can greatly influence crop profitability.
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Timely fertilizer management topics
Fertility
Two key topics: How much fertilizer does canola need? and Why limit seed-placed fertilizer?
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Top 10 canola-related jobs for April
Fertility
1. Prep for good seed placement. 2. Use the canola calculator to set seeding rates. 3. Know the risk of seed-placed fertilizer…and more.
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Fertilizer planning: Seed-placed rates, logistics, in-crop applications
Fertility
What fertilizer to put in the seed row?
How much fertilizer does canola need?
What are your logistical challenges to following the 4Rs? -
Soil health: Indicators and improvements
Fertility
The following article is based on this Canola Watch podcast with University of Manitoba soil scientist David Lobb.
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Late fall fertilizer and soil testing
Fertility
Fall fertilizer Fall fertilizer is best applied as close to freeze up as possible to balance two objectives: (1) To allow soil to seal over the band (frozen soil may not seal). (2) To reduce losses due to high microbial activity in warm soils. The key strategy of fall fertilization is to store nitrogen […]
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Fall fertilizer questions for 2018
Fertility
Question: After a couple of bad years, cash flow is tight. How can a farm reduce fertilizer costs while still keeping the door open for a good rebound yield?
Answer: (1) Soil sampling is often more valuable after a bad year because reserves could still be high. A soil test may show higher than expected carryover. Note that after a dry year, soil nutrient reserves may be concentrated a little deeper so test to at least 12” and probably to 24”. … -
Autumn, not winter, starts on September 22
Fertility
Despite some wintery weather, we can hope for (and expect) good harvest weeks to come. Don’t rush into pre-winter jobs just yet.
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Dry soils: Fall management considerations
Fertility
Dry conditions throughout the summer and heading into winter could have ramifications for field management decisions this fall and rotation planning for next year.
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Top dress: How to identify nutrient deficiency
Fertility
In-crop fertilizer applications can rescue a deficiency situation. But what nutrients are deficient? Look for these symptoms.
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Why limit seed-placed fertilizer?
Fertility
Generally, small-seeded crops such as canola are more sensitive to seed-placed fertilizer, especially nitrogen and potassium.
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Quick test for safe rates of seed-placed fertilizer
Fertility
A quick test for the safety of seed-placed fertilizer is to turn off the fertilizer feed for about 100 feet, mark the spot, and go back and compare stand establishment in treated and untreated areas.
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Fertility planning: Safe seed-placed rates
Fertility
What are safe seed row fertilizer rates for phosphorus (P), sulphur (S) and nitrogen (N)? With lower seeding rates than in the past, this concern is greater than ever. Growers need to keep all seed viable to hit plant population targets. Therefore, the best practice is to put up to 20 lb./ac. of phosphate (max 40 lb./ac. of MAP) in the seed row – if P is needed – and put all other fertilizer in a band outside the seed row.
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How much fertilizer does canola need?
Fertility
Canola generally needs nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur fertilizer each year. A small percentage of fields will also benefit from a potassium application. The following article suggests what canola needs and what soil and crop residue could provide. The rest will come from fertilizer.