The Impact Of Macronutrients On Crop Responses

aerial view of saskatchewan farms growing wheat and canola

eKonomics News Team

Fertility research in Western Canada dates back to the early 1900s. This information has allowed growers to increase fertilizer efficiency, lower production costs, and limit the impact of farming practices on the environment. The ‘Red Book’, first published by the Canadian Society of Soil Science explores the impact of macronutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur research on crop responses, productivity and environmental sustainability in the Canadian prairies in 1993.

The findings for the following 12 chapters are based on the authors’ assessments of both the impact of available research on crop production and environmental protection of the soil and water:

Chapter 1: Balance of Nutrient Inputs (Fertilizers) and Exports (Grain) in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan (P.J. Doyle and L.E. Cowell) – Page 1
Chapter 2: The Changing Fertility of Prairie Soils (L.E. Cowell and P.J. Doyle) – Page 26
Chapter 3: Nitrogen Use Efficiency (L.E. Cowell and P.J. Doyle) – Page 49
Chapter 4: Phosphorus (P.J. Doyle and L.E. Cowell) – Page 110
Chapter 5: Potassium (P.J. Doyle and L.E. Cowell) – Page 171
Chapter 6: Sulphur (P.J. Doyle and L.E. Cowell) – Page 202
Chapter 7: Fertilizer N Application Practices (J.T. Harapiak, S.S. Malhi, C.A. Campbell and M. Nyborg) – Page 251
Chapter 8: Trends in Available Soil N, P, K, and S (D.A. Rennie) – Page 314
Chapter 9: The Role of Fertilizer Nutrients in Rebuilding Soil Organic Matter (N.G. Juma) – Page 363
Chapter 10: Fertilization of Forage Crops and Rangeland (L.E. Cowell and P.J. Doyle) – Page 388
Chapter 11: Soil Microorganism: Key Players in Crop Nutrition on the Prairies (R.J. Rennie) – Page 437
Chapter 12: Crop Nutrients and the Environment (L.E. Cowell and P.J. Doyle) – Page 474

While this report focuses on the research available at the time of publication, it also emphasizes the importance of continual agricultural research.

“There are questions yet to be answered, gains yet to be made in crop production, and improvements yet to be made in nutrition efficiencies through new understandings of soil fertility and soil technology. For this to be achieved, continued support of fertility research is as essential to agricultural sustainability in Western Canada as is the land base itself.”

Access the full report via Canadian Agronomist:

Impact Of Macronutrients On Crop Responses And Environmental Sustainability On The Canadian Prairies