Increasing the Agronomic Relevance of the Long Term Rotation at the Indian Head Research Farm

Term:  5 years, beginning in 2021

Status: Ongoing

Funding Amount: $36,000

Lead Researcher(s): Dr. William May (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Indian Head, SK)

Funding Partners: Western Grains Research Foundation, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture -Agriculture Development Fund (ADF)

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Project Description

This project builds on the on-going long-term crop rotation study started in 1957 by Dr. Ed Spratt and Mr. Ted McCurdy at Indian Head, SK. The goals of this study were to improve the understanding of continuous cropping and to assess different summer fallow frequencies for sustaining crop production and soil quality. Spring wheat was used as the indicator crop. Over the years, the study has permitted in-depth investigations of the long-term impacts of different spring wheat-based rotations on a number of agronomic and soils related issues.

The objectives of this project include: Determining and comparing the long-term effects of short, diverse and wheat-based rotations on agronomics and soil health; examining the short-term differences between these rotations; and documenting carbon and nitrogen input from residues of diverse crop sequences in southeastern Saskatchewan.

Data collected in this project will provide quantifiable information regarding the long-term effects of changes to cropping practices on the agricultural ecosystem of the Canadian prairies, and support model development and further testing work.