RESEARCH

Descriptions of research projects sponsored by OCPA in 2002 are provided below for the areas of nitrogen management and weed management. Projects in other areas will be featured in the next issue.

Included this year for each project, is an estimate of the net return on investment (ROI) that could accrue from the research, assuming the results are reasonably close to the anticipated outcomes and are fully implemented. While these are very much ‘ball-park’ estimates, they are likely to be reasonable for each individual project. However, since several projects may contribute towards the same overall goals (for example, reduced application rates and/or more efficient use of N fertilizers), the ROIs for a particular area of research may not be the sum of the estimated ROIs of individual projects within that area.

In contrast to 2001, several new projects have been undertaken this year, primarily based on the Canada-Ontario Research and Development program (CORD III) monies that became available late last year (instead of prior to the 2001 growing season as initially hoped for). As a consequence of having to utilize the CORD III funds on a very tight timeframe (by the end of 2003), virtually all of the new projects have been supported from this source. As a result, OCPA has been able to avoid using any money from our ‘research reserve’ funds in 2002.

As always, feedback on research priorities from our members through your local or regional OCPA Director, or directly to the OCPA office in Guelph, is always welcomed.

Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency
Evaluation of a Simple “Amino Sugar Nitrogen Test” For Determining Corn Nitrogen Requirements
New in 2002
B. Deen, U. of G., Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $3,500
2-year project (2002-2003)
• Compare the “amino sugar N test”
(“Mason Jar” test) to conventional soil N test for determining crop N requirements
ROI: $5-10/ac ($10-20 million per year).

Comparison of a Nitrogen Credit System to the Pre-Sidedress Nitrate Test and an Evaluation of Manure Application in a Fall Zone-Till System
New in 2002
B. Deen, U. of G., Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $7,500
3-year project (2002-2004)
• Compare effectiveness of N credit worksheet vs. soil N test for estimating N requirements on fields with differing management history (manure, rotation, tillage, cover crop)
• Improved calibration of pre-sidedress N test for use following manure applications
• Assess impact of tillage on agronomic benefit of fall-applied manure
ROI: improved accuracy of predicting N requirements; conservatively $10-20 /ac ($20-40 million collectively).

Development of the Resin-Core Method of Measuring Nitrogen Mineralization in Farm Fields
M. Goss, D. Barry, U. of G., Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $20,000
2-year project (2002-2003)
• Develop practical installation, sampling and chemical analysis procedures for using the resin-core method in farm fields
• Evaluate the resin-core method as a routine test of measuring N mineralization in the field, especially following manure application, under different durations and periods of the year
• Determine the effect of slope position on manure mineralization as estimated by the resin-core method
ROI: $5 - 20 $/ac on manured soils; likely $10 - 20 million per year, collectively.

Building the Ontario Nitrogen Management Database for Corn
G. Stewart, OMAF, Guelph; B. Deen, U. of G., Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $26,000
3-year project (2001-2003)
(also supported by CanAdapt, OMAF, U. of G.)
• Create a comprehensive database compiling all past (last 40 years) and present corn nitrogen management research data, and facilitate ongoing data additions and interpretation, through Internet accessibility to researchers and extension personnel
• Improve N fertility interpretive models (general recommendations; N soil test-based recommendations; nitrogen worksheet and/or site-specific procedures for ‘individualized’ N recommendations; incorporation of temperature, precipitation into interpretation models)
• Improve accuracy of N fertility recommendations and enhance nitrogen management planning guidelines for improved profitability and reduced environmental impact
ROI: improve access to research results, improved N recommendations; savings of 20lbs N/ac ($19 million per year)

Crop-based Indicators for Monitoring Spatial Variability in Corn Nitrogen Management
W. Deen, U. of G., Guelph; B. Ma, AAFC, Ottawa
OCPA Contribution: $30,000
3-year project (2000-2002)
(also supported by AAFC-MII and CanAdapt)
•Evaluate reliability of corn canopy reflectance and chlorophyll measurement as indicators of N sufficiency
•Develop these techniques to quantify corn nutritive needs and spatial N variability
•Evaluate the usefulness of these crop-based N indicators during early crop growth to predict N fertility needs based on adjacent N-fertilized and zero-N corn rows in a semi-ridge tillage system
ROI: conservatively $5-10/ac ($10-20 million per year).

Development of a Site-Specific Nitrogen Management System
I. O’Halloran, U. of G., Ridgetown
OCPA Contribution: $23,000
4-year project (2000-2003)
(also supported by CanAdapt, Innovative Farmers’ Association)
•Evaluate the usefulness of field-based N response strips to determine the most economic rate of N application on a field basis and the potential benefit of site-specific N application

Identification of N Management Units using Soil Organic Carbon (OC)
B. Kay, U. of G., Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $32,000
3-year project (2000-2002)
(also supported by CanAdapt, OMAF Special Research Projects Fund)
Note: this project is integrated with the O’Halloran ‘Site Specific N Management’ project
•Identify the range of organic carbon (organic matter) contents in soils that must exist to make identification of N management units practical
•Identify the OC contents in soils of each textural class that generally distinguish different yield responses
•Determine if spatial distribution of OC can be used to predict potential N availability and crop productivity
ROI: conservatively $5-10/ac ($10-20 million per year.

On-Farm Implementation of Site-Specific Nitrogen and Manure Management
G. Wall, Soil Resource Group, Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $20,000
3-year project (2000-2002)
(also supported by OMAF’s Healthy Futures for Ontario program)
Note: non-manured sites are integrated with the O’Halloran ‘Site Specific N Management’ project
•Evaluate implementation of site-specific N management using low cost and low technology approaches to identifying N management units, in both N fertilizer and manure-based management systems
•Investigate measures to improve the cost-effective use of the pre-sidedress nitrate test (PSNT) in conjunction with current weather data to more accurately predict available N
•Evaluate fall soil testing and in-lab incubation simulations as an alternative to spring or pre-sidedress N testing
ROI: potentially $10-40/ac. ($20-80 million per year).

Identifying N Management Units on the basis of Residual Nitrogen and Soil Structure
E. Gregorich, AAFC, Ottawa; B. Curnoe, U. of G., Kemptville
OCPA Contribution: $20,000
3-year project (2000-2002)
(also supported by AAFC-MII)
•Evaluate methods to measure in-field N availability and spatial variability, including soil-based N testing, remote soil sensing and soil physical properties, to define N management units
•Characterize the spatial variability of soil physical properties, N availability and crop yield, to assess the relationship of these parameters and the factors responsible for yield variability in relation to N availability
ROI: conservatively $5-10/ac ($10-20 million per year).

Weed Management and Sprayer Technology
Agronomic and Economic Assessment of Atrazine and Other Herbicides for Corn Weed Control
New in 2002
C. Swanton, U. of G., Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $5,850
3-year project (2002-2004)
• Determine the agronomic and economic benefits of atrazine for weed control in corn
• Evaluate alternative non-triazine herbicide options for control of agronomically important weeds in corn
ROI: substantiate rationale for use of atrazine in corn as inexpensive, effective weed control – alternative to higher priced options.

Evaluation of Air-Induction Nozzles for post-Emergence Weed Control
New in 2002
P. Sikkema, U. of G., Ridgetown
OCPA Contribution: $8,000
3-year project (2002-2004)
• Compare efficacy of common broadleaf and grass herbicides under field conditions using flat fan, turbo and air-induction nozzles
• Disseminate this information via annual reports, presentations, website, etc.
ROI: improved weed control, reduced off-site damage from drift, reduced re-spray needs – site-specific benefits.

Long-term Effects of Herbicide Reduction/Optimization Strategies in Field Crop Rotations
New in 2002
A. Hamill, S. Weaver, AAFC, Harrow; P. Sikkema, U. of G., Ridgetown
OCPA Contribution: $13,000
3-year project (2002-2004)
(also supported by Ontario Soybean Growers; AAFC-MII)
•Assess sustainability of various herbicide reduction strategies
•Conduct further evaluation of the HADSS (Herbicide Application Decision Support System)
•Determine feasibility of using spring seed bank sampling technique to predict weed populations and improve weed control cost-effectiveness
ROI: reduced herbicide costs while minimizing long-term detriments; $5-10/ac – $10-20 million annually.

Interaction of Herbicide Dose and Nitrogen Fertility Rate
New in 2002
C. Swanton, U. of G., Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $5,025
2-year project (2002-2003)
• Determine if reducing nitrogen fertilizer application will reduce effectiveness of post-emergent herbicide
• Assess potential impact of N management planning (reducing N inputs) on weed management decisions
ROI: difficult to quantify at this stage. Some effect noted in lab study, but magnitude of effect in field is still to be quantified.

Control of New/Exotic Weeds in Field Corn
P. Sikkema, U. of G., Ridgetown
OCPA Contribution: $15,000
Multi-year project (1998-2005)
(also supported by OSG, herbicide manufacturers, Pioneer)
•Assess new and existing herbicides and develop weed management programs for control of new/exotic weeds in corn, soybeans and wheat
•Disseminate research results via Ridgetown College website
ROI: improved control of difficult weeds, thus improved yield and quality of harvest; $10-40/ac on infested acres.

Evaluation of New Weed Control Options for Ontario Corn Producers
C. Swanton, U. of G., Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $3,000
3-year project (2000-2002)
(complements a large investment by herbicide companies and U. of G. in herbicide testing)
•Evaluate the effectiveness of new, low-risk weed control products, at full and half-label rates, in comparison to common standard treatments (pre- or post-emergence, Roundup Ready, etc.) at Elora, Woodstock, Cambridge
ROI: improved knowledge of weed control options.

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