Why is this research important for Alberta ag?
Winter crops provide a distinct advantage over spring crops in extending the growing season under western Canadian conditions. Their longer period of growth compared to spring crops generally leads to higher grain yield in addition to limiting weed pressure and soil erosion. Due to these reasons, there is high interest among producers for winter crop cultivation.
However, limited information is available to them regarding the best management practices and varieties suitable for western Canadian conditions, especially in the case of novel crops such as winter durum, oats, barley, faba beans, etc. This study will enhance the adaptability of novel, fall-seeded pulse and cereal crops through variety screening for western Canadian growing conditions and through seed treatment application.
This study will be conducted at six locations in Alberta for a single growing season. Six novel crops, including winter barley, oats, durum, pea, lentils, and faba beans will be evaluated for fall-seeded crop production through the screening of recently developed varieties. Additionally, seed treatment applications based on neonicotinoid-type insecticides will be evaluated for their influence on crop emergence, vigor, and over-wintering survival.
What benefits can producers expect from this research?
This project will provide information to western Canadian producers about the agronomic feasibility of winter production of novel pulse and cereals and the seed management practices, maximizing productivity.
How will these research findings reach producers on-farm?
Findings will be shared through public media channels, print magazines and e-newsletters, news posts on websites and social media, plot hops and field schools, publications in peer-reviewed journals, and presentations at conferences and tradeshows.
The Smart Partner program will also be designed to enable easy access to all Farming Smarter extension events and digital content in a single package to subscribers.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.