Science Edition 2021—Key result: Researchers developed a Saskatchewan soil health assessment protocol and scoring functions, providing the foundation for tools to transform a farmer’s routine soil test data into a Saskatchewan Soil Health Score. These scores can track soil health status over time, and can measure the effect of farm management on soil health status. Soil health...

Science Edition 2021—Key result: This study compared seven cropping systems in year one, followed by canola in year two and wheat in year three. On a benefit:cost ratio basis, three treatments – year-one cattle manure, year-one green manure crop, and annual application of bio-stimulants – would perform better than other cropping systems investigated in this study. Alberta...

Science Edition 2021—Key result: Overall, crop response was generally not linked to deep or shallow placement of phosphorus or potassium. Deep banding (5-6”) these nutrients at higher rates once every three years is an option if logistics make it a challenge to apply these products in a shallow band at the time of seeding. Long-term direct seeding...

Science Edition 2021—Key result: Farmers can increase the seed safety of higher phosphorus rates by increasing seed bed utilization (narrower rows or wider openers) and applying only phosphorus (not nitrogen or sulphur) fertilizer in the seed row. Current recommendations for safe rates of seed-placed phosphorus (P) recommendations are based on one configuration: 1” opener and 9″ row...