SÉMINAIRE Résultats de la recherche en agriculture ......SÉMINAIRE Résultats de la recherche en...
Transcript of SÉMINAIRE Résultats de la recherche en agriculture ......SÉMINAIRE Résultats de la recherche en...
SÉMINAIRE Résultats de la recherche en
agriculture biologique dans l’Est du Canada –
Programme
Partie 2 • Effet des paillis sur la fertilisation et les mauvaises herbes dans le bleuet de
corymbe (Effect of Mulch Applications on Nitrogen Fertility and the Growth and Productivity of Organically Managed Highbush Blueberry)........................... page 33
• Fertilité des sols : production laitière, pommes de terre, pommiers (Nutrient Management for Organic Dairy and Potato Farms) ...................................... page 39
Effect of Mulch Applications on NitrogenFertility and the Growth and Productivity of
Organically Managed Highbush Blueberry
Nicole Burkhard, MSc.D. Lynch and D. Percival, NSAC
Background Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) is
cultivated in rows amended with sawdust/pine barkand has a low pH and N requirement, favouring NH4-N uptake
An organic protocol excludes the use of mostchemical fertilizers and pesticides
Mineral N release from organic sources can beunpredictable
Use of organic amendments (compost and mulch)can alter N balance due to chemical andbiological characteristics
One novel way of monitoring NO3-N and NH4-Nflux in soil under mulch/compost layer is to useion exchange membranes such as PRS™-probes(Western Ag Innovations, Saskatoon, SK)
Objectives
1) to test the efficacy of natural mulches asa method of weed control, and
2) to assess the effect of conventional andorganic fertility treatments and thicklyapplied mulches on HBB growth, leafnutrient uptake, yield and crop qualityunder organic production.
Objectives
Determine the mineral Nrelease from thick layers ofmulch, applied for weedcontrol, and effect onblueberry plant performance(growth and yield)
2) Assess Plant Root Simulator(PRS™)-probes as a tool fortesting plant-availablemineral N in blueberry fields
07-BIO-20 33
Methodology Location: Annapolis
Valley, NS Split-plot design:
5 blocks Whole plots - 6
mulch fertilitytreatments
Subplots - level ofhand-weeding (+/-)
Mulch/Fertility TreatmentsWhole plot treatments Application Rate C/N Ratio pH
Control ~ ~ ~
AS – Ammonium Sulphate fertilizer [(NH 4)2SO 4] (21-0-0-24)
30 kg N ha -1 ~ ~
NW – Nutri -Wave® Pelletized poultry manure (4-1-2)
60 kg N ha -1 ~ ~
PN – Pine Needles 25 cm (80 T ha -1) 67:1 4.2
MC – Manure /Sawdust Compost 25 cm (550 T ha -1) 46:1 6.4
SC – Seafood Waste Compost 25 cm (360 T ha -1) 22:1 6.6
Mulch application – the hard way Mulches
07-BIO-20 34
Weed Sampling Results
Weeds main effects
Weeds negatively affected HBB growthand productivity, resulting in reducedcanopy volumes, leaf N (in the applicationyear) and lower berry yields
These results were even more pronouncedin the second season (i.e. year afterapplication).
Weed Biomass (kg/ha)
424431225137SC260826071122MC
1300448 808PN358820052463NW
258612462979AS355916421815Control Trial 1R Trial 2 Trial 1Treatment
07-BIO-20 35
Weed Composition
The species composition, time of onset, andbiomass of weeds was influenced by mulchtype
Composts suppressed sheep sorrel andvetch generally
Common ragweed – SC treatment only
pH (0-6 cm)J1 - 1 year after application
a
bcbc
4.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
Control PN MC SC
Treatment
pH
pH was increased underthe seafood wastecompost after 1 year
In the second plot, pHwas slightly higher underthe manure/sawdustcompost after 3 months
J2 - 3 months after application
abab
b
4.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
Control PN MC SC
Treatment
pH
Soil
Mulches increased soil moisture andreduced fluctuations in soil temperature
No detrimental effects to plant productivitywere noted despite high C:N ratios of PNand MC (72:1 and 48:1, respectively).
Soil Mineral Nitrogen (0-45cm)June 22, 2005
0
20
40
60
0-15
15-3
030
-45
0-15
15-3
030
-45
0-15
15-3
030
-45
0-15
15-3
030
-45
0-15
15-3
0
30-4
50-
1515
-30
30-4
5
Control AS NW PN MC SC
Treatment and sampling depth (cm)
Mine
ral N
(kg
ha-1
)
NO3-N
NH4-N
Sept 6, 2005
0
10
20
30
0-15
15-3
030
-45
0-15
15-3
030
-45
0-15
15-3
030
-45
0-15
15-3
030
-45
0-15
15-3
030
-45
0-15
15-3
030
-45
Control AS NW PN MC SC
Treatment and sampling depth (cm)
Min
eral
N (k
g ha
-1)
NO3-N
NH4-N
07-BIO-20 36
PRS™-probes:Cumulative available N over 5 weeks
2005
0100200300
400500600700
7 14 21 28 35
Days
Tota
l N (!
g cm
-2)
ControlPNMCSC
2006
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
7 14 21 28 35
Days
Tota
l N (!
g cm
-2)
ControlPNMCSC
Blueberry Plant Growth and Yield
0
20
40
60
Control AS NW PN MC SC
Treatment
Pla
nt
Can
op
y I
nd
ex
Mulch treatments increased plant canopyvolume and leaf tissue N, P and K.
Blueberry Yield and Quality2005 - No treatment affect on yields
2006 – Yield increased 3x with mulching,with composts (SC, MC) > PN
2006 (Trials 1r) – PN greater yields than SC
Total phenolics and titratable acidity werenot affected by treatment, although SCcaused a slight increase in sugar contentover MC.
Acknowledgements NSERC Industrial
Postgraduate ScholarshipProgram
NSDAF TechnologyDevelopment Fund
Envirem Technologies Inc.(Fredericton, NB)
Nova-Agri Associates(Centreville, NS)
Western Ag. Innovations(Saskatoon, SK)
Canada Research ChairProgram
07-BIO-20 37
Questions?
07-BIO-20 38
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT FOR
ORGANIC DAIRY AND POTATO FARMS
D. Lynch, NSAC
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
• Organic Research and Extension
• Graduate student opportunities
• Consumer information and organic policy
• Links to our free electronic newsletter
• Coming organic events
• Organic courses on internet
Visit OACC.INFO for:
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
SUSTAINABILITY OF DAIRY SYSTEMS
•Dairy farms - large nutrient (NPK) surpluses,
varying with intensity of production system
Klausner, 1995
Anderson and Magdoff, 2000
•Integrated nutrient management - evaluate
nutrient status of all farm components
Powell et al., 2001
Lynch et al., 2003
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
WHOLE FARM NUTRIENTBUDGETS
Imports Exports
BeddingFeedMinerals
Legume BNFSeedAmendments?
Milk, MeatCash crops
Internalflows
07-BIO-20 39
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN FIXATION
1880: Cultivated legumes represented20-30% of all cultivated land in W. Europe
Provided 40-150 kg N/ha and up to 75% ofcrop N requirements.
1960: BNF-N only 50% of global crop N
2000: BNF-N only 20% of global crop N
Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF): N2 NH3
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
COMPARING ORGANICDAIRY SYSTEMS – ABERYSTWYTH,
WALES
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
LIVESTOCK DENSITY, P FLOWS ANDORGANIC DAIRY SYSTEMS
Weller and Bowling, 2004 Biol. Ag.Hort. 22:261-270
1.65
1.27
StockingDensity
451453‘Flexible’
273 43‘Self-Sustaining’
Exports
(kg P)
Imports
(kg P)
ProductionSystem
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
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Watson et al.,2002
3.1-Organic
Anderson andMagdoff, 2000
11.31.2Pasture-based
Anderson andMagdoff, 2000
36.7 2.0Confinement
Weller andBowling, 2004
-4.0
0.0
1.3
1.7
Organic: SS
PF
Lynch et al., 2003 2.60.8Pasture-based
Net Psurplus
(kg/ha/yr)
StockingRate
(LU/ha)
ProductionSystem
DAIRY SYSTEM AND P SURPLUS
07-BIO-20 40
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KIPAWO HOLSTEINS, GRAND PRE, NS
• 1988 - 2000: managementchanges
- adoption of MIG system
- crop diversification
- no fertilizer purchases
- routine soil testing, composting
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
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• Milk production increased (666 kg/cow)
• Feed costs declined (14.3 to 11.6 cents/litre)
• N and K farm budgets indicated low surpluses
• Internal N flows close to optimum for crop mix
• No soil fertility deficiencies (but soil P incr. 2 ppm/yr)
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
Milk: 22
Meat: 3
Manure 46
Feed 34
Manure 7
Seed 0.5
Kelp meal 0.2
FARM N FLOWS (kg/ha)
Fixed N 53
Deposition6
Feed 86
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
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CHANGES IN SOIL FERTILITY
1985 2001OM (%) 3.3 3.9
Ca (ppm) 1293 1488
Mg 568 279
K 291 166
P 117 151
07-BIO-20 41
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INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
-target dietary P : 0.40 - 0.50 g P kg -1 DM
-Reduced diet P by 10%
-Impact - Reduced farm Psurplus by 1 kg ha-1 yr-1
Lynch et al., 2003 Am.J.Alt.Ag. 18:137-145
Ca:P 3 :15 :1
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
ONTARIO DAIRY FARMS
1. Characterize farm productivity and
nutrient (NPK) status
2. Assess phosphate rock availability
3. Examine soil P pools
Location:
15 long-term
organic dairy farms
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
FARM SELECTION CRITERIA
Selection Criteria
- >10 years certified
- farm at ‘Steady State’
- diversity of management
Roberts et al. 2008. Can.J.Soil.Sci. 88:1-7
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FARM CHARACTERISTICS
- Farm size: 110 ha (±55)
- Herd size: 52 cows (±22)
- Productivity: 5656 (±836) kg milk cow yr-1
- Pasture and hay = 65% (±21) of acreage
- Corn = 6% of acreage (50% of farms - no corn)
- Four farms sold cash crops
07-BIO-20 42
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FARM CHARACTERISTICS
Rozzi et al. (2007):
- Emphasis on functional traits
- 3 farms have pure Holstein herds
- 1 farm has Holstein and Jersey
- Crossbreeding: Average of 30% ofherd composition on 8 farms.
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
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NITROGEN
94.8 kg N ha-1
Surplus =
75.3 kg ha-1 yr-1
Efficiency= 21%
19.5 kg N ha-1
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Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
POTASSIUM
15.7 kg K ha-1 4.5 kg K ha-1
Surplus =
11.2 kg ha-1 yr-1
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Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
PHOSPHORUS
4.7 kg P ha-1 3.7 kg P ha-1
Surplus =
1.0 kg ha-1 yr-1
07-BIO-20 43
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AVERAGE FARM P FLOWS
Milk: 264 kg
Meat: 83 kg
Crops: 64 kg
Minerals 303 kg
Feed 159 kg
Seed 9 kg
Other 5 kg
Bedding 30 kg
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
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Organic Matter (OM)
Average: 4.8%
Phosphorus (P) - (0.5M NaHCO3)
Average: 12.2 mg kg-1
50% of farms – fields averaged < 10 mg kg-1
Potassium (K) - (1.0M NH4OAc)
Average: 108 mg kg-1
SOIL FERTILITY
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
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Distribution of NaHCO 3 Extractable Phosphorus (n=225)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
0-5 5-10 10-15 15-20 20-25 25-30 30-40 40-50 >50
mg P kg soil -1
Num
ber o
f Fiel
ds
SOIL AVAILABLE P
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
---kg ha-1 yr-1---
60
1
15
n
9
8
11
K
Watson etal., 2002
Europe292
Roberts etal., 2008
Ontario 175
Lynch etal., 2003
NovaScotia
376
LocationPN
NPK SURPLUS - ORGANIC DAIRYING
07-BIO-20 44
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Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
FEED MANAGEMENT IMPACTS
36.76.51.4Potassium
6.00.4-1.5Phosphorus
98.577.653.3Nitrogen
-----(kg ha-1 yr-1)----Nutrient surplus
311127522208Milk produced (L ha-1 yr-1)
1.210.990.87Stocking rate (LU ha-1)
highmediumlowFeed imports
384Number of farms
CBA
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IMPROVING FARM P STATUS
• conserve P on farm (manure and feed)
• reduce P exports (manure and feed)
• explore options to increase P imports
- minimum feed imports, adjust dietary P
- apply phosphate rock (or other P sources)
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
Feeds/ GrazingLegumes/N2 Fixation
Composts
FARM NUTRIENT FLOWSNSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
LEGUMES AND FORAGE QUALITY
Timothy & RedClover (30%)
Timothy
Soil amendments: N fertilizer Liquid dairy manure Three different composts
07-BIO-20 45
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Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
Predicting compost N release difficult
Variability in compost quality
Unfavourable ratio of PK to N
Why Combine Compost with Legumes?
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
Dairy Manure (HMC)
Producing and Applying Compost
Corn Silage (CSC)
Sewage Sludge (SSC)
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
CompostsCSCSSCHMCLDM
34.84.925.325.1Ttl K (g kg-1)
7.35.66.16.1Ttl P (g kg-1)
9.823.320.96.6C:N
40.012.518.948.9Ttl N (g kg-1)
27.321.327.77.4Lignin %
332344288 77
Amendment Composition
DM (g kg-1)
Manure
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FORAGE YIELDS (3 years)
02468
1012141618
Cont N
Rec
N
High
DM
150
DM
300
Tim
oth
y
Tim
oth
y/C
lover
Timothy Timothy/CloverT DM/ha
Cmp A150 300
Cmp B150 300
Cmp C150 300
07-BIO-20 46
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Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
FORAGE QUALITY (PROTEIN YIELD)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Cont N
Rec
N
High
DM
150
DM
300
Tim
oth
y
Tim
oth
y/C
lover
Timothy Timothy/Clover
Cmp A150 300
Cmp B150 300
Cmp C150 300
Kg N/ha
Lynch et al., 2004 JEQ. 33:1509-1520
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
Mulch/Plow Down
decomposition
H+
phosphatephosphaterockrock
diffusion
dissolution
Ca2+
H2PO42-
Rhizosphere
Root
Arcand M., U. of Guelph, 2007
Phytoextraction of Phosphate Rock P
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
Phytoextraction of Phosphate Rock P
Year 1
Year 2
PPR
VPR
TPR
CPR
Arcand M., U. of Guelph, 2007
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
Buckwheat P uptake
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
0
100
400
800
100
400
800
100
400
800 0
100
400
800
100
400
800
SRPR VPR CPR . VPR CPR
P up
take
(kg
ha-1
)
20042005
07-BIO-20 47
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
Mulch quality and soil P flux
R2 = 0.70
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
2 2.5 3 3.5 4
P content (g kg -1)
P flu
x (_
g P
10 c
m-2
2 w
eeks
-1)
CPR 800CPR 400VPR 800Control
Increased P release
P release unchanged
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
New Research Directions (2008-2010)
1. Determine forage quality, species composition,and legume N2 fixation, and relationship to soilfertility/ soil health.
2. Assess scope for improving legume N2 fixation
and forage productivity.
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
Collaborators: P.Voroney, U of Guelph
Graduate students: C. Roberts, U. of Guelph
M. Arcand, U. of Guelph
Technical Assistance: K. Davidge, J Ferguson,
L. Eccles, Andrea Farrow and Allison Van Horne
Producers: 15 throughout Ontario.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• OMAF New Directions Program
• Canada Research Chairs Program
• Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada
• Ontarbio/Organic meadow
• Harmony Organic Dairy Products Inc.
• Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario
07-BIO-20 48
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
PRODUCTIVITY AND NITROGEN
DYNAMICS IN ORGANIC POTATO
PRODUCTION
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
Varieties: Shepody, A90586-11
Amendments N applied (kg/ha)
Control 0
Nutriwave manure 300; 600
Compost 300; 600
Kentdale Farms, PEI
Brookside, NSLocations: NSAC, Brookside,
NS Kentdale Farms, PEI
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollegeAmendment Composition
18.90.4Ttl K (g kg-1)
14.73.4Ttl P (g kg-1)
8.721.6C:N
6.11.7NH4-N (g kg-1)
44.411.3Ttl N (g kg-1)
97.633.0DM (g kg-1)
PoultryManureCompost
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
07-BIO-20 49
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
0
10
20
30
40
Con
trol
Nu
tr 3
00
Nu
tr 6
00
Com
p 3
00
Com
p 6
00
A90586-11
She pody
A90586-11 Shepody
`
Total Tuber Yields - Kentdale
0
10
20
30
40
Con
trol
Nu
tr 3
00
Nu
tr 6
00
Com
p 3
00
Com
p 6
00
A90586-11
She pody
A90586-11 Shepody
`
T/ha
T/ha
2 0 03
2 0 04
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
Efficiency of Amendment N
1.2
60
-
112
Control
98 116216189Plant N uptake(kg N ha-1)
1.11.21.81.6Tuber Nconcentration (%)
67634952Tuber Naccumulation(% of plant biomass N)
-2.3-1.517.425.7ANR(% of total N applied)
Comp600
Comp300
Nutr600
Nutr300
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
SEASONAL CHANGES IN SOIL NITRATE
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
6/2/04 6/22/04 7/12/04 8/1/04 8/21/04 9/10/04 9/30/04 10/20/04
So
il N
O3-N
(k
g h
a-1)
CTCP300CP600NW300NW600
Winslow 2004
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
6/8/03 6/28/03 7/18/03 8/7/03 8/27/03 9/16/03 10/6/03 10/26/03 11/15/03
So
il N
O3-N
(k
g h
a-1)
CTCP300CP600NW300NW600
Winslow 2003
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
02468
10121416182022
13 19 26 42 86 98
D ays a fte r p lan t ing
Vol. Soil moisture (
%) Con tro l
Com p 300
Com p 600
Seasonal soil moisture content
Kentdale
2 0 0 4
0
4
8
12
16
20
24
28
32
36
12 21 33 61 75 113
D ays a fte r p lan t ing
Gravimetric moisture (
%)
Con tro l
Com p 300
Com p 600
07-BIO-20 50
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
Shepody, controlplots
Relationship between Springsoil mineral N and plant Naccumulation
0
50
100
150
200
0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175
Soil mineral N (kg/ha)
Pla
nt
N (
kg/h
a)
Brook.‘0 3
Brook.‘0 4
Kent. ‘0 4
Kent. ‘0 3
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollegePlant Root Simulator (PRS)™ Probes
NH4+
NH4+ NH4+NO3-
NO3-
NO3-
NH4+
NH4+NO3-
Anions Cations
Soil Particle
10 cm
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
0
500
1000
1500
2000
3 10 16 23 30
Days after planting
Ava
ilab
le N
su
pp
ly (
ug
cm-2
)
Control
Comp. 300
Comp. 600
Nutr. 300
Nutr. 600
Cumulative Available N: PRS™ Probe Flux and Net Soil Mineral N
Kentdale2 0 0 3
3 1 0 .8
kg
1 8 2 .2
7 2 .
85 3 .2
3 9 .
6
Soil Nm in
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
PRS-N (0-30DAP) and plant N uptake
Kentdale
2 0 0 4
0
50
100
150
200
250
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
N sorbed on probes (ug cm-2 d-1)
Pla
nt
N u
pta
ke
(k
g/h
a)
R2= 0 .9 8 ; y= 4 8 .7 5 +
2 3 .9 xShepody
Kentdale2 0 0 3
R2= 0 .9 8 ; y= 5 8 .7 6 +
2 3 .8 x
0
50
100
150
200
250
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
N sorbed on probes (ug cm-2 d-1)
Pla
nt
N u
pta
ke
(k
g/h
a)
07-BIO-20 51
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Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
Kentdale2 0 0 4
R2= 0 .9 8 ; y= 4 5 .0 +
1 0 .8 x
Kentdale
2 0 0 3
R2= 0 .9 8 ; y= 4 7 .0 +
1 2 .8 x
0
50
100
150
200
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
N sorbed on probes (ug cm-2 d-1)
Tu
be
r N
up
tak
e (
kg
/ha
)
0
50
100
150
200
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
N sorbed on probes (ug cm-2 d-1)
Tu
be
r N
up
tak
e (
kg
/ha
)
GDD 0 -30 d / GDD total = 0 .2 4 GDD 0 -30 d / GDD total = 0 .2 1
PRS-N (0-30DAP) and tuber N uptake
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
CT
CP3
00
CP6
00
NW
300
NW
600 CT
CP3
00
CP6
00
NW
300
NW
600 CT
CP3
00
CP6
00
NW
300
NW
600
Winslow 2003 Winslow 2004 Brookside 2004
Resi
dual
NO
3-N a
t har
vest
(Mg
ha-1
)
SOIL NITRATE N AT HARVEST (kg ha-1)
60 kgNO3-N
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
Variety Trials
Residual nitrate-N:
2002: 22 kg NO3-N ha-1
2003: 19 kg NO3-N ha-1
Yields
28-35t/ha
(250-300 cwt/acre)
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
Plant Health and Potato Beetle Dynamics
Colorado Potato Beetle dynamics (larvae
development) are influenced by plant
health/fertility
Boiteau et al., J. Applied Entomology, 2008
07-BIO-20 52
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Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
Vegetable Production, Soil Quality and RotationDesign
Four 5-year organicvegetable rotation sequences
Varying in green manureand soil amendment typeand frequency
Commenced in 2006
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
Fertility status organic apples - Ontario
• Voroney et al. 2006. Acta Hort 737:79-86
• Survey of soil fertility status on 18 organic and 2conventional orchards in Ontario
• Plus leaf tissue comparison oftrees in areas where sod dominatesor not in 1 orchard
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
Soil Fertility- Organic orchards
• Soil (0-30cm) sampled (n~20) between treetrunk and drip line
• 50% of organic orchard soils were P (<12ppm)and K (<120ppm) deficient
• Soil inorganic N lower inorganic compared toconventional
NSAC. Science Applied to Life.
Nova ScotiaAgriculturalCollege
Leaf tissue analyses - Organic orchard
• N, Ca and Fe was lower in leaf tissue sampledfrom weak trees where sod dominant
• Study emphasizes importance of sod and floormanagement to maintain tree nutrition
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