4R POTATO RESEARCH IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Transcription

1 4R POTATO RESEARCH IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND Steve Watts Genesis Crop Systems Inc July 21, 2014

2 HOSTED BY CANADIAN FERTILIZER INST SASKATOON, SK July 15 17, 2014

3 All about the 4Rs. GHG emissions Environmental sustainability Crop performance & profitability

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5 CURRENT SITUATION Yields not keeping pace with competition Soil erosion a major concern and ground water [NO3] on the rise Production is moving west Industry lives in a fishbowl

6 Generally speaking. Most common fertilizer strategy relies on: Soil testing either in the fall or spring prior to planting Adjust soil ph to (PEI has naturally acidic soils) AN, Urea, DAP and KCl major components Bulk of crops N-P-K requirements applied down the pipes (banded) at planting Majority of soils test H-VH for P2O5 Results High salt index near seed Excess levels of major nutrients before being needed by crop, but! Remember, we are in a dry land situation little opportunity for fertigation Doing what we ve been doing.

7 FARMING FOR OUR ISLAND initiative Follow up of some preliminary field work conducted in 2012 Field scale trials initiated in 2013 Side by side demos in commercial fields Real life proof of performance Partners include Several Provincial Gov t Departments, several Ag Industry Organizations, Local Watershed Groups and five interested commercial potato producers

8 Right Product Right Rate Right Time Right Place Closely related to Nutrient Management Planning, etc

9 May not always be Most convenient Least expensive (on a per acre basis)

10 Should always be Softer on environmental footprint Might be.more profitable?

11 Objective to demonstrate 4R approach to profitable and sustainable potato production on PEI Note: No current template to work from, so we developed our own based on best available information from various sources

12 In Sites Across PEI 2 Russet Burbank irrigated 2 Shepody, 1 Ranger Russet

13 What was done. Review field inventory & select field > 25 acres in size min 10 acre Mod Review current soil test report Prepare Modified fertilizer program that took into account variety, end use, soil status, rotation credits, etc Set GPS sample points in each treatment area for subsequent soil/plant sampling Hand harvest 6 X 15 strips from each treatment in each field same # of plants each time Submit samples to Cavendish Farms Central Grading Facility for yield/quality/crop value analysis Create N-P-K balance sheet to compare programs

14 Features of Mod programs Reduction in N at three sites N remained similar at other two. N was split applied as two or three (RB) applications and sourced from various products including Urea, Ammonium Nitrate, Calcium Ammonium Nitrate and the two P2O5 sources (DAP or MAP) Reductions of P2O5 at all sites (31-65 lbs/acre) K2O adjusted up lbs or down lbs depending on soil test values Portion of N (from urea) and K20 (from KCl) broadcast and incorporated prior to planting

15 Features of Mod programs (cont d) All KCl removed from planter mix replaced with SOP Mg levels increased to deliver additional Mg to crop all via planter mix B and Zn added as deemed necessary from soil test report Growers were encouraged not to use any foliar fertilizer products without prior consultation

16 SO WHAT??? In Shepody* and Ranger, no noticeable difference in crop emergence, vigor, foliage color or days to senescence from either treatment In Burbank, however, Mod treated plants were slower to reach full canopy, remained paler green in color for majority of the growing season and senesced earlier than the GSP treated plants at both sites Is darker better??? No consistent differences observed regarding mid season petiole/whole plant nutrient content values from either treatment at any site Shepody Brudenell Site July 8, 2013

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18 2013 CFI 4R Fertilizer Trials Change in parameter Vs GSP Site Total Yield Defects Sp Gr Pay Wgt Net Return Residual NPK A*** B C D E

19 E CFI 4R Fry Color Comparison Site GSP Modified A B C D

20 Going forward Continue work in 2014; looking for repeatable results 8 additional sites this season Original growers showing great interest; no problem finding next 8 participants Believe It Or Not some growers quite skeptical, but still curious Goal is to keeping working towards continuous improvement Work in Progress! Is the way we feed our crop having a negative effect on crop performance?

21 Thanks to. Staff from PEIDAF Cavendish Farms Research Division Cavendish Farms Central Grading Barry Murray Hunter Farms Brian Annear Willard Waugh & Sons MacLennan Propertries Birch Farms and,