| | A new report compiled by Alberta Reduced Tillage LINKAGES (RTL), with funding from Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Alberta Environment, and Climate Change Action Fund, chronicles the value that Albertans derive from the move to no-till seeding systems. The report, co-authored by Dr. Mirza Baig of Consulting Options, Edmonton, and Peter Gamache, former Team Leader of RTL, is based on peer-reviewed research, and is one of the legacies left behind by RTL, which ceased operations in August 2009.
.
"The primary objective of this report was to summarize all the economic, agronomic and environmental benefits of no-till in Western Canada with special emphasis on Alberta, explains Baig. "A secondary objective was to identify gaps in our current knowledge about no-till in Alberta, and apply information from elsewhere in North America to fill these gaps."
The adoption of conservation tillage technology since the 1980s has been one of the most remarkable changes in the production of crops on the Canadian Prairies. Between 1991 and 2006, no-till farming acreages in Alberta rose from 0.6 million to 9.0 million acres, an increase of 1,358 per cent (Stats Canada, 2006). No-till farming systems are popular in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Peace River block of British Columbia because they improve the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil, and provide substantial savings on fuel, farm machinery-life and labour costs.
Key findings include:
- increased grain yield of 3.5 per cent in wheat, 6.2 per cent in barley, 7.95 per cent in flax, 4.6 per cent in peas and 13 per cent in lentils
- a significant reduction in labour cost (up to 80 per cent), fuel consumption (up to 80 per cent), and machinery use
- soil conservation with reduced tillage has reduced the risk of soil erosion to a small proportion of agricultural land
- no-till increases water infiltration into the soil, reduces sediment and pesticide losses that would otherwise enter the watershed, and may reduce phosphorus and nitrogen loss
- land converted to no-till sequesters atmospheric CO2 into the soil to reduce greenhouse gas and enhances the carbon sink of soils
- studies have shown that no-till farming practices have a greater abundance and diversity of wildlife, including songbirds, ducks, small mammals and soil arthropods
- no-till enhances the physical, chemical and biological properties in the soil, resulting in greater agricultural sustainability
An Executive Summary and complete report can be found at www.reducedtillage.ca
The Alberta Reduced Tillage LINKAGES (RTL) program was developed as a sustainable production initiative. The unique partnership had broad-based farmer, industry, educational, wildlife and government support. The partners pooled their expertise and resources to provide an extension program focused on improving the environmental and economic sustainability of farming in Alberta. RTL operated with five extension agronomists located throughout Alberta.
The Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA) is a provincial association of non-profit producer groups dedicated to enhancing the sustainability and profitability of agriculture in Alberta.
Contact:
Dr. Mirza N. Baig
Agricultural consultant, Consulting Options
780-481-6958
mnbaig@telusplanet.net
Ty Faechner
Executive director, ARECA
780-416-6046
faechner@areca.ab.ca
www.areca.ab.ca |
|