In the northern Great Plains of Canada, there has been limited research conducted on reduced-tillage grain production systems managed organically. The objective was to adapt an organic rotational no-till system to the growing conditions of Manitoba, and to test its agronomic performance. A set of four experiments were conducted between 2010 and 2012, in Carman, MB, Canada. Mulches with hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) showed the most promising results, producing the highest mulch biomass and organic no-till spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield. Organic flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) yield was significantly higher in no-till than in the two tillage treatments. Reduced content of soil nitrate-N and perennial weeds limited crop productivity after 4 yr under organic continuous no-till. In conclusion, the successful adaptation of the organic rotational no-till system to the growing conditions of Manitoba eliminated the need for tillage for a period of 1.5 to 2 yr.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:MANITOBA/oai:mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca:1993/23848 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | Halde, Caroline |
| Contributors | Entz, Martin (Plant Science), Gulden, Robert (Plant Science) Ominski, Kim (Animal Science) Tenuta, Mario (Soil Science) Hammermeister, Andrew (Plant Science) Porter, Paul (Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota) |
| Publisher | ACSESS-Alliance of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science Societies, Elsevier B.V. |
| Source Sets | University of Manitoba Canada |
| Detected Language | English |
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