Grant: Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grants

Olds College of Agriculture & Technology has been actively involved in small plot research since about 2016. Since its inception, the college' crops applied research program, has acquired a small plot seeder that requires seed to be sown in cultivated (tilled) soil. According to Statistics Canada’s Census of Agriculture, the number of acres under zero-till or no-till production increased from 65% in 2011 to 69% in 2016, indicating the increasing adoption of zero-till farming in the province. With more pronounced impacts of climate change on annual crop production, such as increased frequency and length of drought periods from year to year, the demand for climate change adaptation practices is on the rise. Less disturbance of soil via zero-till implies that there will be less moisture loss amidst improved soil conservation, among other net benefits. Furthermore, the acquisition of a zero-till seeder will enable Olds College to provide relevant, applicable applied research information to about 70% or more crop farmers across Alberta. Small plot crops applied research focuses on projects including, but not limited to pulse crop regional variety trials (RVT) to provide yield (harvest quantity), protein content (harvest quality), and overall agronomic (including economics) information to pulse growers. Crop research also focuses on testing agronomic performance (yield, quality, economics) of novel cereal crop cultivars, such as wheat and barley, oilseeds, such as canola, and alternate specialty crops, towards the successful adoption by crop farmers. Due to the fact that agricultural crop production contributes to greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, the crop industry needs to adopt non-conventional, 4R nutrient stewardship beneficial management practices (BMPs). A zero-till seeder can be classified as a 4R Nutrient Stewardship BMP because it enables the application of fertilizer directly into the soil as opposed to its surface application (broadcasting), and subsequent propensity for nutrient loss. The 4R nutrient stewardship principles are the Right fertilizer source, at the Right rate, at the Right time and in the Right Place. Fertility related field projects are related to agronomic assessment of novel organic fertilizer products and microbial inoculants under field conditions.