Enhancing the root microbiome in canola
Researchers wanted to continue the work to learn more about root microbiomes, identify the core microbiome in canola and in turn, improve fertilizer efficency in canola.
An on-farm approach to monitor and evaluate the interaction of management and environment on canola stand establishment
Canola cultivar was the most influential management variable on percent emergence and early growth rate, and also significantly impacted the spatial uniformity of emergence in this observational study.
Congreves: Developing a Soil Health Assessment Protocol for Saskatchewan producers – Phase I
A Saskatchewan Soil Health Assessment Protocol and Scoring Functions were successfully developed. This provides the foundation for developing tools that are capable of transforming a farmer’s routine soil test data into a Saskatchewan Soil Health Score.
Reaney, Der Rees & Dalai: Industrial Products from Vegetable Oils
Using green processing technologies, Saskatchewan-grown crops, such as camelina, canola, corn, flax and soybean oils can be incorporated into existing materials and manufacturing processes without the need for additional infrastructure.
Reducing toxicity of seed-placed phosphorus fertilizer in canola
Researchers initiated a two-year study in 2018 to determine the maximum safe rate of seed-placed P fertilizer with different opener widths and row spacing in canola; and to develop updated seed-placed P fertilizer guidelines for producers and crop advisors to use.
Carcamo: Validation of lygus and other insect pest thresholds in commercial farms throughout the Prairie Provinces
Lygus bugs are a sporadic pest of canola at the pod stage across parts of western Canada. In this four-year study, researchers were interested in validating the economic thresholds of lygus in commercial canola fields across western Canada.
Galpern: Surveillance networks for beneficial insects: Can natural habitats serve as insect reservoirs and do they contribute to yield?
The surveillance network identified a total of 157,407 arthropods of 418 species from 317 sampled areas in southern and central Alberta. Sampling by the surveillance network developed a geographically extensive database on the distribution and abundance of beneficial arthropods found in Canadian prairie croplands.
Tomasiewicz: Evaluation of sap nitrate for in-season assessment of crop nitrogen status
Fertigation is the application of fertilizer in irrigation water. This practice offers producers a means to maximize their fertilizer nitrogen use efficiency in high-yield canola production.
Newkirk: Enhancing the nutritional value of by-products through steam explosion
Canola production and processing create significant economic benefits for Saskatchewan and Canada as a whole. The industry has grown over the years due to the demand for healthy oil, sound agronomy and suitable growing conditions in Saskatchewan.
Smith: Assessing surface wax chemical diversity as a tool to defend against abiotic and biotic stress in canola
The outer surfaces of land plants are covered by a complex water-repelling material referred to as cuticular wax. This layer plays a fundamental role in prevention of water loss from the plant and in defense against attack by insect pests and fungal pathogens.
Vankosky: Development of a pheromone-based monitoring system for a newly identified Contarinia midge on the Canadian Prairies
The canola flower midge Contarinia brassicola Sinclair (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) is a newly-described species that induces galls on canola, Brassica napus Linnaeus (Brassicaceae) (Mori et al. 2019). The galls prevent flowers from opening and subsequent pod formation.
Monitoring SOC on commercial direct-seeded fields across Saskatchewan – Phase 4
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan conducted a study to assess the nature and permanence of sequestered soil organic carbon (SOC) i) in contrasting Saskatchewan soils after 21 years of conservation management practices and ii) in soils with contrasting land management histories.