Concerns over water quality have led to required removal of 50 % of dairy manure phosphorus (P) from the impaired Bosque River Watershed. Application of composted dairy manure (CDM) to sod and moving P off the watershed with sod has prompted a study using box lysimeters to determine NO3--N and P leaching from transplanted sod grown with CDM and inorganic fertilizer as well as sprigs top-dressed with CDM. Treatments were applied to lysimeters filled with a silica sand medium. Three leaching events were imposed, leaching 0.07 to 0.09 % of the total P applied and 0.09 to 1.43 % of total N applied. Concentrations of P in leachate averaged 0.04 to 0.25 mg L-1. Top-dressed CDM on sprigs leached statistically greater amounts of NO3--N than both transplanted sod treatments and greater P than the fertilizer grown sod. After the third leaching event, all treatments received an additional application of P, 100 kg ha-1 as CDM for manure-grown sod and sprigs, 50 kg ha-1 as triple superphosphate for fertilizer-grown sod. An additional three leachings were imposed. Top-dressed sprigs and transplanted sod leached similar amounts of P following the additional P application. Applied nutrients appeared to stay mainly in the sod layer and in the sand medium just below the sod layer. Top-dressed CDM appears to exhibit greater leaching losses of NO3--N than transplanted manure-grown sod and greater N and P losses than transplanted fertilizer grown sod.

The effect of level and timing of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application on grain yield (YLD), grain protein (GPC), and breadmaking ability of four hard red spring wheat cultivars and on soil residual nitrate was investigated. Nitrogen fertility caused an increase in YLD, lodging, several yield components, GPC, and breadmaking quality and caused a reduction in N harvest index and grain ash, and N use efficiency (NUE) resulting in an increase in soil residual NO$ sb3$-N. Split N application reduced lodging, tillers and spikes m$ sp{-2}$ and caused an increase in grain weight, GPC, loaf volume and NUE. Grain yield increases were largely due to increases in the grain spike$ sp{-1}$ and tillers n$ sp{-2}$. Absolute protein content was found to be critical in determining GPC. Cultivars showed plastic responses to N. Despite its high YLD and flour yield, Hege 155-85 may be risky to produce because of its high dependence on N. Mineralization of N occurred during winter. Marked differences existed between the sites.

Evidence to show that rusted wheat can fix elementary nitrogen was reported by d'Oliveira in 1939. If this be true the infection of this host by this parasite would have the rare property of fixing nitrogen in common with mycorrhiza, leguminous plants infected with root nodule bacteria and the few other possible associations. The fact that there is a short initial mutualistic symbiosis between rust and wheat makes this possibility of nitrogen fixation by the rusted wheat not entirely unlikely. However, d'0liveira's studies were admittedly preliminary ones, in which he used the Kjeldahl method of nitrogen analysis. [...]

Low plant available phosphorus limits legume growth and biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). This study examined, under controlled conditions, the relationship between soil phosphorus and alfalfa and soybean BNF on two contrasting low-P soils (Ontario and Nova Scotia) from organic dairy farms. Soluble P was applied up to 135 mg P kg-1. An optimum range of 45 to 90 mg kg-1 applied P increased soybean plant growth, nodulation, N and P uptake and BNF. Significant effects of soil type reflected greater N supplying ability and lower P sorption for the Ontario soil. Alfalfa response to soluble P application was not as apparent. In addition three potentially organically acceptable amendments (MSW compost, Crystal Green® struvite and partially solubilized rock phosphate) were evaluated as alternate sources of plant available P. Compost and struvite, applied at moderate rates, sufficiently supplied P to increase plant growth and BNF comparably to that found for soluble P fertilizer.

Utilizing food and yard waste (FYW) compost for plant production requires determination of application rates that support crop production, improve soil properties and avoid excessive nutrient build-up. An 88 day incubation experiment showed 12 t ha-1 FYW compost to contribute 3.6 kg M3P ha-1 and 0.3 kg mineral N ha-1, 24 t ha-1 supplied 15.1 kg M3P ha-1 and 0.7 kg N ha-1 and 36 t ha-1 gave 39.5 kg M3P ha-1 and 1.2 kg N ha-1 to Pugwash series coarse, loamy soil. A field study showed FYW compost yielded higher P concentrations in grain and stover but lower grain yields than fertilizer. In the residual year, compost treatment yields didn’t decrease and concentrations and amounts of P and N increased. This FYW compost applied to corn at 24 t ha-1 with an N fertilizer can yield similarly to fertilizers only, removing greater amounts of P in grain and stover.

Key aspects of the basic agronomy Camelina sativa were evaluated under controlled environment conditions and at multiple field locations in 2011 and 2012. Camelina is a highly adaptable crop. It germinates well even under low water availability and has a great potential for yield compensation. The line CDI007 was the most promising genotype with the highest yield potential, the lowest glucosinolate content, and the highest tolerance to downy mildew. The optimum N rate for seed yield varied by year and location: 100 kg N/ha at Truro and Canning in 2011, 120-150 kg N/ha at Canning, Truro and New Glasgow, 160-200 kg N/ha at Fredericton in 2012. N was positively correlated with protein content, but negatively correlated with oil content. Application of sulphur increased protein content at all of the sites and yield at some of the sites. In general, camelina response to S was maximized when N was sufficient.

In an effort to better understand the impacts of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from oil sands development on soils and vegetation, a laboratory experiment was designed, which mimicked the natural and reclaimed boreal forest environment found in the Fort McMurray area. The primary objective of this research was to examine the effects of various types and concentrations of NOx under a controlled laboratory study, and to provide recommendations and management strategies with respect to NOx deposition management. Findings indicated that, for some vegetation types, significant relationships exist between NOx treatment and vegetation height, biomass, and percent total nitrogen responses. Furthermore, some soil chemical parameters exhibited significant differences due to treatment and or soil depth, and some appeared to serve as better indicators of NOx deposition. Recommendations are made with respect to future research considerations and management strategies for NOx emissions including consideration of both eutrophication and acidification potential.

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