Possible to underseed to wheat in year 2 to avoid a lost year of revenue

Introduction:

Perennial crop development is seen as a positive step in

sustaining field crop production in Western Canada.

Degradation of soils via tillage, the loss of organic matter

(OM), and the reliance on high levels of inputs (fertilizer

and pesticides) is leading many to look to perennial crops

as part of the solution.

We grow many perennial crops for feed and some for seed

production for forage plantings and export, however little,

if any, is being grown as a food or feed grain in western

Canada.

Benefits of growing perennials in crop rotations is well

researched, however the utilization of forages has dropped

off in North America, due first to mechanization and more

recently with the downsizing of livestock production.

Economic analysis has indicated that there are specific

situations where inclusion of perennial crops harvested for

feed in a farming system can add to the profitability of a

farm exclusive of environmental benefits.

Potential Species:

o Species that are often included in discussions regarding

perennial crops include:

o Grains: perennial wheat, rice, sorghum, intermediate

wheatgrass

o Oilseeds: Perennial sunflower, flax.

o Legumes: Illinois bundleflower, alfalfa

o Other potential species for Manitoba include perennial

cereal rye (grain), prairie dropseed (grain), prairie turnip

(legume, vegetable), prairie onion (vegetable) and other

native legumes for N2 fixation.

o Potential for the individual species may be impacted by

their demand and their adaptation to polyculture.

Benefits:

It is envisioned that the use of perennial crop species will aid in

the remediation of the soil.

Perennial species once established will reduce risk of spring

weather on establishment and are better able to utilize available

resources throughout the entire growing season.

Year-long presence and growth will help reduce the potential for

negative environmental impacts such as soil erosion.

Another envisioned advantage will be a reduction of fuel

expenditures as field preparation and seeding will not be carried

out annually.

The lack of surface disturbance and incorporation of organic

matter will increase soil OM by reducing degradation and

increasing deposition.

Year 3 perennial establish

Year 7 perennial harvest

Year 6 perennial harvest

Year 5 perennial harvest

Year 4 perennial harvest

Example of a possible fit for perennials grains in rotation

Year 1 canola

Year 2 wheat

Remove perennial and go back into annuals

Perennial Crop Development

D.J. Cattani, Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, R3T 2N2, cattani@cc.umanitoba.ca

C4 Grain Legume Oilseed C3 Grain

Breeding Strategies:

Breeding system will in part be determined by the individual

species mode of pollination, including: self-pollination, cross-

pollination, apomixis, ability to self cross-pollinated species.

Selection strategies with respect to the desired genetic

uniformity of the crop species requires that it be determined prior

to breeding system development.

Cultivars may be developed..

Ecovars ™ have been suggested with some selection taking

place on important traits and genetic diversity being maintained

and this may be of benefit in this system.

If a polyculture system: attempt to utilize the entire growing

season via selecting for either maturity synchrony within the

composite crop species and differential growth times of

companion species (e.g. legume for N2 fixation).

Cultivar or germplasm adaptation can have a significant impact

on yield potential, especially after the first seed harvest so

selection for sustained yields.

Possible polyculture system with synchronized maturity, one

harvest per year and crop separation at seed plant.

Year 1 establish

polyculture

Polyculture of perennial crops

Year 2 perennial grains

harvest

Year 3 perennial grains

harvest

Year 4 perennial grains

harvest

Year 5 perennial grains

harvest

Year 6 perennial grains

harvest

Year 7 harvest all crop

species

Crops are removed and producer may replant

polyculture or enter into annual cropping portion of

above example

Prairie turnip (legume) Perennial flax: Wild Blue Flax

(right) Perennial sunflower:

small seed

(left) Perennial cereal rye:

ergot

Challenges

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