Features Agronomy Corn
RESEARCH REVEIW:July 2007 W

Reducing canola seed damage from metering
and air distribution systems
Tests were conducted using air cart/metering and distribution systems from Conserva
Pak, Bourgault and New Holland to quantify canola seed damage from the metering/air
distribution system. Test variables included two canola varieties (Hybrid and
non-hybrid), two ground speeds at five and six miles per hour (8.0km/h and 9.7km/h)
and four air speeds. Seed samples, for laboratory analysis, were taken before
testing, after metering, and at the opener outlets.

Overall seed damage (physical and germination) due to metering and distribution
was less than 10 percent with no measurable effect from ground or air speed.
The open pollinated variety was more susceptible to damage compared to the hybrid
variety.

PAMI, with funding port provided
by the Agriculture Development Fund of the Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture
and Food and the Canola Council of Canada.

Effect of hog manure applications on weed
control management
This study suggests that high nutrient applications to agricultural land could
encourage an increase in weed densities for some species. Specifically, the
application of twice the recommended rate of manure based on soil N increased
wild oats densities in agricultural land.

While manure applications had no influence on trifluralin persistence and carryover
in the field experiment, the results of the laboratory experiments provided
some indication that long-term (10 to 40 years) manure applications to agricultural
land decreased trifluralin and glyphosate persistence in some soils, perhaps
due to better soil tilth induced by manure amendments.

The effect of manure on herbicide persistence in soil varied with soil characteristics
and is also expected to be dependent on land management practices other than
manure. Fresh manure applications to soil had a greater and more consistent
effect on 2,4-D persistence than on trifluralin and glyphosate persistence.
The persistence of 2,4-D in soil decreased with increasing manure application
rates. There was evidence that the effect of manure on trifluralin and 2,4-D
persistence in soil was due to the effect of manure on herbicide sorption in
soil and, hence, the availability of the herbicide to micro-organisms that degrade
herbicides in the soil.

Dr. Annemieke Farenhorst, University
of Manitoba with funding from the Manitoba Agri-Food Research and Development
Initiative and the Canola Council of Canada.

Impact of seeding rate and row spacing on
plant growth, seed yield and seed quality of lentil in southern Alberta
A study was established in early May 2006 at the Crop Diversification Centre
South, Brooks, using large green (CDC Sovereign), medium green (CDC Viceroy)
and red (CDC Redberry) lentils at three seeding rates (121, 146 and 165 seeds
per square metre) with three row spacings (20, 25 and 30 centimetres). Treatments
were arranged in a split-plot design with three replicates.

Results indicated that highest seed yield can be achieved with a seeding rate
of 165 seeds per square metre and a row spacing of 30cm for large seeded lentil
cultivar CDC Sovereign, with a seeding rate of 143 seeds per square metre and
a row spacing of 20cm for medium seeded green cultivar CDC Viceroy, and with
a seeding rate of 165 seeds per square metre and a row spacing of 25cm for red
lentil cultivar CDC Redberry. This study will be repeated in 2007.

Manjula Bandara, Crop Diversification
Centre South, Alberta Agriculture and Food.