Findings emerging from the Yara Incubator Farm located at Discovery Farm in Langham, Saskatchewan are making a strong case for the benefits of complete nutrition.
“Amid the dry growing season of 2021, we were unexpectedly able to uncover the true difference that the Yara Complete Nutrition program makes in comparison to the grower standard practice,” said Yara Crop Manager Delaine Mandziak. “What we found was unmatched results and the lack of moisture amplified those findings.”
“The Yara crop nutrition program on canola showed an 18 per cent increase in available water used, whereas the Yara crop nutrition program on wheat showed a 12 per cent increase in available water used,” said Mandziak. “Additionally with the comprehensive nutrition program, we saw earlier root development and further reach to access stored soil water.”
With the unpredicted lack of rainfall on this non-irrigated project, the Yara Incubator Farm used nutrient management decisions during planting that was based on rates of a typical growing year. Now, a closer look is being taken at what a nutrition program should look like in preparation for the 2022 season to mitigate a potentially challenging year.
“In a year with well below normal rainfall, variability in soil moisture across the field becomes truly evident,” said Blake Weiseth, Applied Research Lead at Discovery Farm and Agriculture Research Chair at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. “While it makes for a challenging growing season, conducting research under these conditions can help us understand how we optimize water use efficiency under extreme conditions.”
To read more on the Yara Incubator Farm, click here.
