all you ever really needed to know about yield potential...
TRANSCRIPT
ALL YOU EVER REALLY NEEDED TO
KNOW ABOUT YIELD POTENTIAL,
SALINITY AND SOIL PROPERTIES
IS IN THE LANDSCAPE.
OR NOT.
Curtis Cavers (AAFC) and Marla Riekman (MAFRD)
Purpose
To link soil-landscape-productivity concepts to
soil management issues
Audience participation is required!
Use the iclickers to answer questions based on:
General soil/agronomy principles
Soil properties and landscape processes
Linking properties and processes to productivity
General Soil/Agronomy Principles
What is the typical rooting depth of canola?
A. 6 inches (15 cm)
B. 1 foot (30 cm)
C. 2 feet (60 cm)
D. 4 feet (120 cm)
General Soil/Agronomy Principles
Answer: D - 4 feet (120 cm)
Canola root depth will vary from 36 to 76
inches (90 to 190cm)
Average about 56 inches (140cm) at maturity
for B. napus
General Soil/Agronomy Principles
Tillage tends to ________ water flow through
root channels and macropores.
A. increase
B. decrease
General Soil/Agronomy Principles
Answer: B - Decrease
Zero Tillage Conventional Tillage
Photos: CSIRO
General Soil/Agronomy Principles
Which cereal crop is most sensitive to excess
moisture?
A. wheat
B. barley
C. oats
D. corn
General Soil/Agronomy Principles
Answer: B - Barley
Barley is highly sensitive to ethylene (C2H4)
toxicity
Ethylene accumulates around plant roots during
excess moisture conditions
Barley will experience root death at very low C2H4
concentrations
Soil Properties & Landscape Processes
Using the catena (landscape cross-section)
below, which of the four landscape positions is
most likely to have the thinnest A horizon?
A
B
C D
.
4504003503002502001501005000
100
200
300
400
Parent Material
Th ick ness of B
Th ick ness of A
Dis tance (m)
Rel
ativ
e E
lev
atio
n a
nd
Th
ick
nes
s (c
m)
Soil Properties & Landscape Processes
Answer: A - Knoll
A. Moulin et al. 1994. Can. J of Soil Sci.
Using the catena (landscape cross-section)
below, which of the four landscape positions is
most likely to have a soil profile with a typical
A/B/C horizon sequence?
A
B
C D
Soil Properties & Landscape Processes
Will insert soil horizon sequence diagram...
Soil properties & landscape processes Answer: B - Midslope
Using the catena (landscape cross-section)
below, which of the four landscape positions is
most likely to have the highest (shallowest)
water table?
A
B
C D
Soil Properties & Landscape Processes
Using the catena (landscape cross-section)
below, which of the four landscape positions
would you expect corn and soybean yields to
be the lowest if salinity is present?
A
B
C D
Soil Properties & Landscape Processes
In order to manage salinity, what is the most
crucial landscape position to address through
enhanced water management practices?
A. B
B. C
C. D
D. all positions (i.e. the entire field)
A
B
C D
Linking Properties & Processes to Productivity
Linking Properties & Processes to Productivity
Using the catena (landscape cross-section)
below, which of the four landscape positions is
most likely to have the most stable crop yields?
A
B
C D
Yield loss due to soil erosion at position A is
best addressed in the short term by:
A. Manure applications
B. Extra fertilizer application
C. Irrigation
D. Tile drainage
A
B
C D
Linking Properties & Processes to Productivity
Linking Properties & Processes to Productivity
22 22 22 22
22
22 2222
1815
12 10
0
5
10
15
20
25
Yie
ld b
u/a
c
None 2" 4" 8"
No fert
1X fert
2X fert
Soil removed
No fert
1X fert
2X fert
22
22 222222
Answer: B – Extra Fertilizer Application
Wheat Yield – Pembina Clay Loam
3330 29 28
32
28
21
1032
26
138
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Yie
ld b
u/a
c
None 2" 4" 8"
No fert
1X fert
2X fert
Soil removed
No fert
1X fert
2X fert
32
33
28 2928
30
However, this is soil texture dependent
Wheat Yield – Rheinland Loamy Fine Sand
Linking Properties & Processes to Productivity
Using the practice of landscape restoration at
Position A, by how much could crop yield
productivity be increased?
A. 10%
B. 20%
C. 40%
D. 60% and higher
A
B
C D
Linking Properties & Processes to Productivity
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
peas wheat flax
Yie
ld b
u/a
c
knoll
restored
depression
scrapped
eroded knoll
restored
depression
scraped
Answer: D – 60% and higher
Linking Properties & Processes to Productivity
64%
133%
94%
Diane Smith, MSc Thesis, 2008
• 4” of topsoil
taken from
depression and
spread on eroded
knoll
Where is seedling toxicity due to seed-placed
fertilizer most likely to express itself?
A
B
C D
Linking Properties & Processes to Productivity
Depression Soil Hilltop Soil
Nesbitt site - MAP/AS blends
0
50
100
150
200
250
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28
Pla
nts
m⁻²
Days after Emergence
Control
Low MAP/Low AS
Low MAP/High AS
High MAP/Low AS
High MAP/High AS 0
50
100
150
200
250
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28
Pla
nts
m⁻²
Days after Emergence
Answer: A - Knoll
Nesbitt Site - Depression Soil Nesbitt Site - Hilltop Soil
Laryssa Grenkow M.Sc. Thesis, 2013
Soil Characteristics
Minnedosa Nesbitt
Soil Characteristic Depression Hilltop Depression Hilltop
Soil Series Erickson Erickson Hilton Hilton
Texture SCL CL SL L
pH 7.2 7.8 7.7 7.9
OM (%) 9.0 3.2 6.0 1.8
CEC (meq) 29.7 32 26.3 28.2
Calcium Carbonate (%) 0.4 8.4 0.5 21.0
Container Capacity (%)z 39.8 33.1 25.8 17.2
z Gravimetric water content
Laryssa Grenkow M.Sc. Thesis, 2013
Where should practices to mitigate or prevent
soil compaction be conducted?
A. C
B. D
C. Headlands, if evidence
of compaction is present or
conditions favourable for compaction to occur
D. The entire field
A
B
C D
Linking Properties & Processes to Productivity
Answer: C - Headlands, if evidence of
compaction is present of conditions favourable
for compaction occur
However, the depressions may be at risk of
compaction depending on moisture conditions.
Linking Properties & Processes to Productivity
Summary
Know your agronomic principles
Soil Principles:
Water is the main driver
Elevation is a clue
Crop yield is a report card on soil productivity
4 long-term yield robbers (soil quality):
Erosion
Salinity
Compaction
Organic matter depletion