| | Fertilizer recommendations | Disease and insect seed treatment | Good seed | Determination of seeding rates
This publication provides general information on crop types for production under irrigation. Recommended varieties are listed for each crop, along with seeding rates and general fertilizer recommendations. With this information, producers can determine the variety and seeding rate for each irrigated crop.
Fertilizer Recommendations
General fertilizer recommendations are given for both nitrogen (N) and phosphate (P2O5). The lower value for applied nitrogen should be used when soil test nitrogen is high or when optimum irrigation cannot be maintained. The highest value for applied nitrogen should be used when soil test nitrogen is low. For greatest nitrogen efficiency, nitrogen fertilizer can be banded rather than broadcast and incorporated.
When soil test levels of phosphorus are high, only a small starter application of P2O5 is required. The higher value for applied phosphorus should be used when soil test phosphorus is low. Phosphorus is most effective for the majority of crops when banded near the seed or drilled in with the seed. Broadcast and incorporated applications should be at least twice the drill-in rates to be equally effective.
Normally, potassium (potash), sulphur and micronutrients are not required by most crops. When soil test levels of potassium (K) are less than 300 lb/ac, an application of potash fertilizer should be considered. When soil test levels of sulphur are less than 10 lb/ac, sulphur fertilizer applications could be considered. Normally, however,
there is enough sulphur in irrigation water to meet crop requirements. Approximately 20 lb/ac of sulphur is added to soil with each 30 cm (12 inches) of irrigation water.
Response to micronutrient fertilizers is uncommon for most irrigated crops grown on most soils. The only exception is irrigated field beans, which occasionally will respond to applications of zinc. Deficiencies occur with dry beans when soils are wet and cold in spring. The micronutrient content of most soils in southern Alberta is sufficient to meet crop requirements.
For more detailed information, refer to the following Alberta Agriculture factsheets:
Disease and Insect Seed Treatment
Flax seed should be treated to control seedling blight. Canola seed should be treated to control flea beetles, seedling blight and the seed borne phase of blackleg. Cereal smuts can be controlled and root diseases suppressed with seed treatment fungicides. Corn should be treated to control seedling blight, root disease and wireworms.
Pea, bean, canola and sunflower crops grown under irrigation are highly susceptible to sclerotinia white mold. Proper water management, crop rotations and the use of appropriate fungicides will result in higher yields.
All wheat types are susceptible to Fusarium head blight,
with high risk for continuous wheat or wheat after corn. Recommended control strategies include foliar fungicides and restricted irrigation during anthesis (flowering).
Good Seed
Costs of crop production are becoming extremely high: land use, machinery, fertilizers, chemicals and labor, so the cost of good quality seed is a most important production factor.
The only way to be absolutely sure of obtaining a particular variety is by the use of pedigreed seed. The certificate of analysis of each seed lot will indicate details of purity relative to other crop kinds and weed seeds.
Determination of Seeding Rates
Approximate seeding rates for grain, pulse and forage crops are provided in the following tables. After the crop variety is selected and a target seeding rate is determined, the seeding rate in pounds per acre must be determined. This can be done using the seeding rate calculators available on-line on Alberta Agriculture’s website.
The calculators are available at:
Specific crop recommendations include:
Cereals - Table 1
Oilseeds - Table 2
Special crops - Table 3
Forages - Table 4
Pulses - Table 5
| Table 1: Cereals |
| Crop | Type | Yield Potential | Varieties | Seeding Rates | General Fertilizer Recommendations1 | Approximate Growing Season Water Use4 |
 | N (lb/ac) | P (lb of
P2O5/ac) | in. | mm |
| Wheat | Spring | 100 bu/ac | AC Barrie, 5602 HR, Superb, CDC Go, Prodigy, Somerset, CDC Abound, CDC Alsask, CDC Osler, Harvest, Journey | 105-130 lb/ac (25-30 seed/ft2) | 50-140 | 20-50 | 18 | 460 |
| Durum | 110 bu/ac | AC Morse, AC Navigator, Commander | 120-150 lb/ac
(25-30 seed/ft2) | 50-140 | 20-50 | 18 | 460 |
| Soft | 140 bu/ac | AC Andrew, AC Meena, Bhishaj, Sadash | 110-160 lb/ac
(25-30 seed/ft2) | 50-140 | 20-50 | 19 | 480 |
| Winter | 120 bu/ac | AC Tempest, McClintock, Radiant | 105-130 lb/ac
(25-30 seed/ft2) | 50-120 | 20-50 (Fall applied) | 15 | 380 |
| Prairie spring | 120 bu/ac | AC Crystal, 5701PR Snowhite 476 | 120-145 lb/ac
(25-30 seed/ft2) | 50-140 | 20-50 | 19 | 480 |
| Barley | Malt | | AC Metcalfe, CDC Copeland | 90 - 130 lb/ac
(18- 25 seed/ft2) | 35-110 | 35-50 | 18 | 430 - 460 |
| Feed | | Xena, CDC Bold, Vivar, Kasota, Mahigan | 140 -170 lb/ac
(30 seed/ft2) | 45-130 | 20-50 | 18 | 460 |
| Silage | 12 - 15 T/ac
(wet basis) | Xena, CDC Bold, Vivar, Kasota, Mahigan | 140 – 190 lb/ac
(30-35 seed/ft2) | 50-130 | 20-50 | 17 | 430 |
| Oats | Grain | 130 -140 bu/ac | AC Mustang, Cascade | 120-130 lb/ac | 50-130 | 20-50 | 17 | 430 |
| Silage | 12 - 15 T/
(wet basis) | AC Mustang, Cascade | 120-130 lb/ac
(25-30 seed/ft2) | 50-130 | 20-50 | 16 | 410 |
| Spring Triticale | Grain or silage | 120 bu/ac or
12 - 15 T/ac | Pronghorn, AC Alta,
AC Ultima | 160 -190 lb/ac
(35 seed/ft2) | 50 - 140 | 20-50 | 18-19 | 460 - 480 |
| Winter Triticale | Silage | 100 - 120 lb/ac | Bobcat | 160 -190 lb/ac
(35 seed/ft2) | 50 - 120 | 20-50 | 15 | 380 |
| Cereals for Pasture | Barley | 2.5 AUM/ac | Tukwa | 100 lb/ac | 35-80 | 20-50 | 15 | 380 |
| Table 2: Oilseeds |
| Crop | Type | Yield Potential | Varieties | Seeding Rates | General Fertilizer Recommendations1 | Approximate Growing Season Water Use4 |
| N (lb/ac) | P (lb of
P2O5/ac) | in. | mm |
| Canola | Argentine | 65-80 bu/ac | Refer to most recent Varieties of Cereals and Oilseed Crops for Alberta, Agdex 100/32 | 6-9 lb/ac | 35-140 | 20-50 | 19 | 480 |
| Flax | | 50-65 bu/ac | Flanders, CDC Bethune, CDC Sorrel, Prairie Thunder | 30-40 lb/ac | 20-100 | 15-40 | 16 | 410 |
| Safflower 3 | Birdseed | 2,500 lb/ac | Saffire | 30-50 lb/ac | 35-90 | 25-50 | 17 | 430 |
| Birdseed/Oil | 2,800 lb/ac | AC Stirling, AC Sunset |
| Mustard | Yellow | 3,000 - 3,600 lb/ac | AC Pennant, AC Base, Andante | 10-12 lb/ac | 35-110 | 20-50 | 18-19 | 460-480 |
| Brown | 3,000 - 3,600 lb/ac | Common Brown, Duchess | 7-10 lb/ac | 35-110 | 20-50 | 18-19 | 460-480 |
| Oriental | 3,000 - 3,600 lb/ac | Cutlass, Forge, Ac Vulcan | 7-10 lb/ac | 35-110 | 20-50 | 18-19 | 460-480 |
| Table 3: Special Crops |
| Crop | Type | Yield Potential | Varieties | Seeding Rates | General Fertilizer Recommendations1 | Approximate Growing Season Water Use4 |
| N (lb/ac) | P (lb of
P2O5/ac) | in. | mm |
| Potatoes | French Fry | 18-22 T/ac | Use varieties recommended by contracting companies | Follow contracting company recommendations | 120-200 | 75-150 | 22 | 560 |
| Chipping | 15 T/ac | Use varieties recommended by contracting companies | Follow contracting company recommendations |
| Table | 18 T/ac | Use varieties recommended by contracting company | Seed pieces 2 oz. 36 in. spacing between rows, 6-12 in. within rows. Use within row spacing recommended by contracting company |
| Sugar Beets | | 25 T/ac | Use varieties supplied by contracting company. Order seed early. | 1.1 lb/ac; 6 inches between plants; 22 inches between rows | 80-140 | 30-65 | 22 | 560 |
| Corn | Silage | 18-23 T/ac
(wet basis) | See Corn Committee Recommendations at: www.albertacorn.com | 30,000-33,000 plants/ac | 80-200 | 45-60 | 20 | 510 |
| Grain | 120 bu/ac | See Corn Committee Recommendations at: www.albertacorn.com | 23,000-25,000 plants/ac |
| Table 4: Forages |
| Crop | Type | Yield Potential | Varieties | Seeding Rates | General Fertilizer Recommendations1 | Approximate Growing Season Water Use4 |
| N (lb/ac) | P (lb of
P2O5/ac) | in. | mm |
| Smooth Brome Grass | | 4-6 T/ac | Carlton, AC Rocket, Radisson, Bravo | Refer to Varieties of Perennial Hay and Pasture Crops for Alberta 2008, Agdex 120/32 | For pasture up to 200 lb/ac in 4-5 split applications
For hay 100 lb/ac in spring, 80 after each cut | 30-40 lb/ac spring broadcast | 22-24 | 560-610 |
| Meadow Brome Grass | | 4-6 T/ac | Fleet, Montana, Paddock |
| Orchard Grass | | 4-6 T/ac | Kay, Arctic |
| Timothy | | 4-5 T/ac | Climax, Express, Champ, Climax, Colt, Grinstad, Hokuo, Richmond |
| Reed Canarygrass | | 4-6 T/ac | Rival, Venture, Palaton, Bellevue |
| Pubescent wheatgrass | | 4-6 T/ac | Greenleaf, Chief, Clarke |
| Grass and Legume | All grass types | 4-6 T/ac | With 20 to 40% legume | Refer to Varieties of Varieties of Perennial Hay and Pasture Crops for Alberta 2008, Agdex 120/32 | 30-60 |
| Grass and Legume | All grass types | 4-7 T/ac | With 40 to 60% legume | Refer to Varieties of Perennial Hay and Pasture Crops for Alberta 2008, Agdex 120/32 | 10-35 | 30-60 |
| Canary-seed | | 2,400 lb/ac | Keet, Elias | 27-40 lb/ac | 30-80 | 20-50 | 18 | 460 |
| Sainfoin | | 3-4 T/ac | Nova | 35 lb/ac | 0-30 inoculate with F inoculate (Nitagin Co.) | 50 annually or 100-150 when estab- lishing stand | 20 | 510 |
| Alfalfa | Forage | | Refer to most recent Varieties of Perennial Hay and Pasture Crops for Alberta 2008, Agdex 120/32 | 10-12 lb/ac | No N fertilizer required. Inoculate with Rhizobium meltoti2 | 50 annually or 100-150 when estab- lishing stand | 26 | 680 |
| Seed | | Use varieties where market demand is high | 2-4 lb/ac | 0-30 and inoculate with Rhizobia meltoti2 | 30-50 annually or 100-150 when estab- lishing stand | 20 | 510 |
| Table 5: Pulses |
| Crop | Type | Yield Potential | Varieties | Seeding Rates | General Fertilizer Recommendations1 | Approximate Growing Season Water Use4 |
| N (lb/ac) | P (lb of
P2O5/ac) | in. | mm |
| Fababean | | 3,500-5,000 lb/ac | Snowbird (low tanin) | 175-220 lb/ac | 0-40 and Inoculate with Rhizobia leguminosarum2
Q culture | 30-60 | 22 | -560 |
| Dry Beans | Pinto | 2,400-2,700 lb/ac | Othello, AC Agrinto, AC Island, CDC Minto | 60-110 lb/ac | Refer to Dry Bean Nutrient Requirements in Southern Alberta, Agdex 142/532-1 | 30-40 lb of
P2O5/ac Zinc application may be necessary when soil test is low or P2O5 application is high | 15 | -380 |
| Small red | AC Redbond |
| Pink | Viva, AC Early Rose |
| Great Northern | AC Resolute |
| Black | AC Diamond |
| Navy | AC Skipper |
| Pea | Field (dry) | 3,500 - 4000 lb/ac | Yellow: Reward, Eclipse, SW Marquee, CDC Bronco, Cultass, Caneval Green: SW Parade, Cooper | 135-200 lb/ac (9 seeds/ft) | for all types 0-20 lb N/ac and proper seed inoculation with Rhizobia leguminosarum2 | 25-40 for all types | 16 | 410 |
| Process- ing Pea | 2-3 T/ac | Varieties supplied by contracting company | 12 seeds/ft2 | 14-15 | 350-380 |
For more detailed information, see the following factsheets:
Varieties of Cereal and Oilseed Crops for Alberta
Varieties of Perennial Hay and Pasture Crops for Alberta 2008
Prepared By
Dr. Ross McKenzie
Agronomy Research Scientist,
Lethbridge, AB
Telephone: 403-381-5842
Rob Dunn
Cropping Systems Specialis
Lethbridge, AB
Telephone: 403-381-5904
1 Fertilizer recommendations are general. Soil testing is necessary to determine exact fertilizer requirements.
2 Fertilizer application rates are based on inoculation with specific rhizobia bacteria to obtain nitrogen fixation. An appropriate sticker should be used to obtain proper seed/inoculant contact. Soils with residual N levels exceeding 40-50 lb/ac may not respond to inoculation.
3 These crops can be adversely affected by intensive irrigation. Overwatering of these crops can lead to increased disease pressure and delayed maturity.
4 Irrigation requirement = crop water requirement - (Growing season precipitation and available soil moisture).
NOTE: To simplify information, trade names of some products have been used. No endorsement of these products is intended nor is any criticism implied of similar products that are not mentioned.
Source: Agdex 100/32-1 Revised July 2008. |
|