1 Field Pea Benefits for the Subsequent Wheat Crop The project was to study the effects of field peas, barley and canola grown in 2009 on the wheat crop grown in 2010 (under 50 and 100% of the soil test based recommended nitrogen rate) and economics for the different crop combinations. In 2009, field peas and canola were seeded near Donnelly (Gauthier) and High Prairie (Fevang), using recommended agronomic practices. Due to an uneven canola stand at the Fevang site, caused by post emergence frost, the plots under canola were reseeded with barley on June 19. Seed yield averaged 59.9 bu/ac (peas) and 25.6 bu/ac (canola) at the Gauthier site; and 83.2 bu/ac (peas) and 120.2 bu/ac (barley) at the Fevang site. The 2009 crops had no influence on the soil test levels or fertilizer recommendations for both sites in 2010. Drought was considered to reduce the 2010 wheat yield at Gauthier. Wheat yield at Gauthier was significantly greater (11.2 bu/ac at 50% and 9.8 bu/ac at 100% N rate) on peas than canola stubble, and showed similar response to N fertilizer on both stubble type. At Fevang, the 2010 wheat yield was greater (about 15 bu/ac) on peas than barley stubble at both N rates; and it was greater at 100% than 50% of N rate (about 11.5 bu/ac) for both stubble types. Peas-wheat had higher contribution margin than the barleywheat or canola-wheat combinations. For both sites, the fall 2010 soil samples showed no influence of the treatments on the N, P, K and S test levels or fertilizer recommendations for a following canola crop. In conclusion, wheat yield was greater after peas compared to other crops, and peas-wheat combination provided higher contribution margin than the canola-wheat or barley-wheat combinations. (Full report on PP ??)

Field Pea Benefits for the Subsequent Wheat Crop Kabal S. Gill, SARDA Background In a 2007-2008 project near Falher, soil tests showed similar amounts of nitrogen (N) present in field pea and canola stubble in 2007 (SARDA Annual Report 2008). In the following year, the nitrogen flow rate tended to be greater in peas stubble compared to canola stubble. Also, wheat yield tended to be greater under peas stubble compared to canola stubble. Economic analysis showed higher profitability in the field pea-wheat than in the canola-wheat combination. The key factors in improving the profitability of peascanola rotation were the lower expenses for peas in 2007 and higher returns from wheat in 2008. The 2009-2010 projects are to collect data from more site-years and to draw conclusions based on data from a wider range of growing conditions. Objectives To demonstrate the benefits of including field pea in a crop rotation as follows. • Effects of field peas, barley and canola grown in 2009 on the wheat grown in 2010. • In 2010, two fertility regimes (50 and 100% of the soil test based fertilizer rate for the 2009 canola plots) were used to determine if nitrogen fertilizer rate reduction was viable. • Economics compared for the two years of different crop combinations. Methods 2009: Field peas and canola were grown near Donnelly (Gauthier) and High Prairie (Fevang), using recommended agronomic practices (Table 1). Two plots of each crop were seeded in each of the 4 replications of a RCBD, to accommodate the two N rates in 2010. Plot size was 1.4 m wide (6 rows) and

2 8 m long. Seeding was done using a Fabro plot drill equipped with Atom Jet openers. Harvesting was done using a WinterSteiger plot combine. At the Gauthier site (NW7-77-20W5), WeatherMax (600 mL/ac) was sprayed (600 ml/ac) and crop residues were mowed before seeding. Peas (60 bushel target yield) received 20.7 lb N/ac, 40 lb P2O5/ac, 20 lb K2O /ac, and 20 lb S/ac. Canola (40 bushel target yield) received 70 lb N/ac, 35 lb P2O5/ac, 20 lb K2O /ac, and 20 lb S/ac. Seed placed 11-52-0 and side banded 0-0-60 and 20-0-0-24.5. Granular inoculants (10 lb/ac) were used for the field peas. On June 25, Solo (11.7 g/ac) + Merge (200 mL/ac) were sprayed on the peas and WetherMax (600 mL/ac) was sprayed on canola. Reglone was sprayed on canola (Sept. 27). Harvesting was done on Sept. 29 (peas) and on Oct. 1 (canola). At the Fevang site (NW-25-74-17W5), WeatherMax (600 mL/ac) + 2,4-D Ester 700 (600 mL/ac) + Agral 90 (200 mL/ac) were sprayed on May 8. Both crops received 44 lb P2O5/ac (seed placed 11-52-0). Canola plots also received 205 lb/ac of 35-0-0-9 (side banded mixture of 46-0-0 and 20-0-0-24.5). Granular inoculants (10 lb/ac) were applied to the field peas. On June 17, Solo (11.7 g/ac) + Merge (200 mL/ac) were sprayed on the peas and 150 SN Liberty (810 mL/ac) was sprayed on canola. Due to an uneven canola stand, the plots were reseeded with barley (AC Metcalf)) on June 19. The barley plots were sprayed with Prestige A (320 mL/ac) and Presitige B (800 mL/ac) on July 19. Harvesting was done on Sept. 25 (peas) and on Oct. 17 (barley). 2010: At Gauthier, soil samples (0-6 and 6-12 inch) were collected on April 16. All plots received preseed burn off on May 7 (360 g/ac glyphosate). Harvest wheat was seeded on May 11 (90 lb/ac seed rate), using 50% (42 lb N/ac) or 100% (84 lb N/ac) of the recommended N rate. Recommended rates of other nutrients were used for all plots, i.e. 32 lb P2O5/ac and 24 lb K2O/ac. Assert @ 0.67 L/ac + Curtail M @ 0.81 L/ac were applied on June 9. Plant height (3 measurements per plot, July 29), maturity (15 heads from 2 replications, Aug. 14) and yield data were collected (harvested Sept. 19). Soil samples were collected on October 8. At Fevang, soil samples (0-6 and 6-12 inch) were collected on April 16. Harvest wheat was seeded on May 10 (90 lb/ac seed rate) using 50% (32 lb N/ac) and 100% (64 lb N/ac) of the recommended N rate. Recommended rates of other nutrients were used for all plots, i.e. 32 lb P2O5/ac, 24 lb K2O/ac and 5 lb S/ac. Pre-emergence application was 540 g/ac glyphosate on May 14. Curtail M @ 0.81 L/ac was applied on June 23. Plant height (3 measurements per plot, July 29), maturity (15 heads from 2 replications, Aug. 16) and yield data were collected (harvested Oct. 1). Soil samples were collected on October 8. Economics: Contribution margin for each treatment was calculated by subtracting the input costs (fertilizer, seed, and herbicides) from the returns of crop sales (crop sale return – specific treatment costs). The costs common to all the treatments for the given site or year were not included in the calculations of the contribution margins. In 2009, the seed costs were of $20/ac for canola, $50/ac for peas and $17/ac for barley. Fertilizer prices were $610/t for 46-0-0, $880/t for 11-52-0, $940/t for 0-0-0-60, $480/t for 20.5-00-24. Pea’s inoculants cost were $20/ac. Herbicide costs were $6/ac for canola, $25/ac for peas and $8/ac for barley. Sale prices were $400/t for canola, $260/t for peas, $204/t for barley and $200/t for wheat. Results 2009: Only about 50% of the normal rain was received at both sites in 2009 (Table1). However, the Fevang site had a much greater spring soil moisture level and also received 22 mm more rain during the growing season than the Gauthier site. The peas yield was greater at the Fevang site than the Gauthier site (Table 2). Table 1: Spring soil moisture (SSM) and monthly rain at the two sites in 2009 and

3 2010. The Percentages of normal are also given in brackets. SSM and Rain, mm* Gauthier Fevang 2009 SSM* 37.0 (49) 100.0 (111) May 34.4 (75) 33.4 (77) June 19.0 (23) 8.9 (10) July 55.4 (71) 92.3 (102) August 18.6 (32) 14.4 (22) Total Rain 127.4 (48) 149.0 (52) 2010 SSM* 15.0 (20) 37.0 (41) May 65.8(144) 64.1(150) June 17.5 (22) 37.7 (43) July 19.8 (26) 52.0 (58) August 54.0 (94) 52.8 (82) Total Rain 157.1 (59) 206.6 (73) * Weather stations: Fevang- High Prairie, and Gauthier – Ballater. Table 2. Crop yield in 2009, from the plots for 50% and 100% nitrogen (N) rates in 2010. Yield, bu/ac Yield, kg/ha Crop 50%N 100%N 50%N 100%N Gauthier Canola 22.3 28.9 1286 1621 Peas 61.3 58.5 4120 3928 Fevang Barley 119.8 120.6 6438 6486 Peas 82.9 83.4 5573 5601 2010: The Gauthier site had only 20% of the normal soil moisture in spring and received only about quarter of the normal rain in June and July, resulting in very dry conditions during the main growing season (Table 1). In comparison, the Fevang site had greater spring soil moisture level and also received 50 mm more rain during the growing season. The wheat crop was much better at the Fevang than Gauthier site (Table 3). Compared to the Gauthier site, the wheat at Fevang site was 24.3 cm taller, took 10.3 days more to mature and provided 55.7 bu/ac higher seed yield and had 1.0 lb/bu greater bushel weight. Table 3. Average plant height, maturity, seed yield and bushel weight of wheat at the 2 sites. Height Maturity Yield Bushel Site cm Days bu/ac lb/bu Gauthier 66.6 90.5 28.4 63.8 Fevang 90.9 100.8 84.1 64.8 Seed yield at both locations was significantly affected by the treatments (Table 4). But the plant height, days to maturity, and bushel weight0 showed no effect of the treatments at either site (data not shown).

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Table 4. Wheat yield in 2010 at the 2 sites under different 2009 stubbles and N treatments. Yield, bu/ac Yield, kg/ha Stubble 50% 100% 50% 100% Gauthier Canola 22.2 24.1 1494 1624 Peas 33.4 34.0 2250 2286 CV% 11.2 11.2 LSD0.05 5.11** 344.1** Fevang Barley 70.4 82.4 4756 5547 Peas 85.9 97.3 5783 6553 CV% 3.95 3.95 LSD0.05 5.31** 357.4** Drought was considered to reduce wheat yield at Gauthier. Wheat yield was significantly greater (11.2 bu/ac at 50% and 9.84 bu/ac at 100% N rate) on peas than canola stubble (Fig. 1). On both the canola and peas stubble, wheat yield tended to be greater (not significantly) at the 100% than 50% of N rate, indicating similar wheat response to N fertilizer. Peas-wheat combination had higher contribution margin than the canola-wheat combination (Table 5). Adequate rain was received during the 2010 growing season to produce above average wheat yield (Table 1. At both N rates, 2010 wheat yield was greater (about 15 bu/ac) on peas than barley stubble (Fig. 2). For both the barley and peas stubble, wheat yield was greater at 100% than 50% of N rate (about 11.5 bu/ac) indicating similar wheat response to N fertilizer. Peas-wheat combination had higher contribution margin than the barley-wheat combination (Table 5). 35 30 25 20

2009 Canola

15

2009 Peas

10 5 0

50%N

100%N

Fig. 1. Yield of 2010 wheat (bu/ac) at Gauthier.

5

100 80 60

2009 Barley

40

2009 Peas

20 0

50% N

100% N

Fig. 2. Yield of 2010 wheat (bu/ac) at Fevang. The 2009 crops had no effect on the N, P, K and S soil test levels in spring of 2010 or their recommended amounts for 60 bu/ac wheat yield in 2010 (Tables 6 and 7). Similarly, the soil samples collected in 2010 fall showed no effect of the treatments on the N, P, K and S levels in soil or their recommended amounts for a 45 bu/ac canola crop in 2011. Discussion: The wheat yield in 2010 was greater on peas than canola (Gauthier) and barley (Fevang) stubble. Pea-wheat combination had higher contribution margin than both the barley-wheat and canolawheat combinations. As the 2009 crops or 2010 N rate treatments had no effect on the N, P, K and S soil test levels or their recommended amounts for the subsequent crops, the wheat yield advantage from peas was probably from mineralization of nutrients from the pea’s residue. The 2010 wheat results are supported by the 2008 results near Falher, when the wheat yield at different N rates tended to be greater after peas than canola (SARDA Annual Report 2009). Similarly, the data from a crop rotation trial also showed the 2010 wheat yield to be greater on the peas than canola, flax, and wheat and barley stubbles, being maximum on peas and minimum on canola stubble (SARDA Annual Report 2010). For the 2009-2010 crop combinations in this trial, returns were peas-wheat ≈ barley-wheat > wheat-wheat > flax-wheat ≈ canola-wheat. In conclusion, wheat yield was greater after peas compared to other crops, while previous crop or N rate had no effect on the N, P, K, and S levels in soil or their recommended amounts for the following crops. Pea-wheat combination also provided higher contribution margin than the combinations of other crops with wheat.

Table 5. Contribution margins for the tested crop combinations and nitrogen (N) rates at two sites. Crop Contribution margin, $/ac* combination 50%N 100%N Gauthier Canola-wheat 205 248 Peas-wheat 455 416 Fevang Barley-wheat 796 848 Peas-wheat 915 965 *The calculated contribution margin did not include the costs that were common to all treatments and the quality of crops.

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Communication Activities Following activities were performed to communicate the results to farmers, industry and public. • SARDA organized an open house at the trial site on July 15, 2010. It was well attended by the farmers and others. • Trials map and related information were made available at the sites entrance for self-guided tours by the farmers and others during the July and Aug. 2010. • A poster, “Field pea effects on subsequent wheat and economics of various crop combinations in southeast Peace of Alberta” was presented at the 8th Canadian Pulse research Workshop on Nov. 3-5, 2010, Calgary; and Advanced Agronomy Conference on Nov. 24-25, 2010, Leduc. • The abstract of above mentioned poster was printed as part of the proceedings and its summary has been submitted for the Alberta Pulse Growers web site. • An article, “Field pea response to fertilizers in southeast Peace region of Alberta” was published in the December 2010 issue of the SARDA’s newsletter Back Forty, which has also been posted on the web page (www.sarda.areca.ab.ca). • Abstract and full report of the project will be published in the annual report of SARDA. Acknowledgements Alberta Pulse Growers (APG), Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development (Opportunity Fund, AOF) and local municipalities (Big Lakes, Greenview, Northern Sunrise County, Smoky River) for funding the project. Co-operators: Gauthier Farms (MD of Smoky River) and Bill Fevang (MD of Big Lakes). Agri-Pro St. Isidore Co-op – for donating fertilizers. Little Smoky Seeds- for donating seeds.

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Table 6. Spring and fall 2010 soil test results (0-6 inch) and fertilizer recommendations at the Gauthier site. 2009 2010 Soil P Soil K Soil S Nitrate Rec N Rec P2O5 Rec K2O Rec S Crop N rate ppm ppm ppm ppm lb/ac lb/ac lb/ac lb/ac Spring 2010 soil tests Recommendations for 60 bu/ac wheat Canola 50% 11.0 108 15.0 15.5 84 32 15 0.0 Canola 100% 14.0 108 21.0 18.0 84 32 30 0.0 Peas 50% 15.0 108 10.5 11.5 86 32 22 5.0 Peas 100% 13.0 100 10.0 11.5 84 32 22 5.0 LSD0.05 4.31 33.4 7.43 16.57 5.9 11.2 27.6 0 CV 10.2 9.9 16.5 36.9 2.2 10.9 38.5 0 Fall 2010 soil tests Canola 50% 11.5 124 18.5 Canola 100% 11.5 138 15.5 Peas 50% 11.0 118 10.5 Peas 100% 14.5 106 12.0 LSD0.05 5.63 51.2 6.46 CV 1.8 16.1 2.0

31.0 37.5 38.5 17.0 10.79 3.4

Recommendations for 45 bu/ac canola 86 40 20 35 92 42 20 35 90 42 20 40 92 40 30 38 7.0 6.5 22.5 5.6 2.2 2.0 7.1 1.8

Table 6. Spring and fall 2010 soil test results (0-6 inch) and fertilizer recommendations at the Fevang site. 2009 2010 Soil P Soil K Soil S Nitrate Rec N Rec P2O5 Rec K2O Rec S Crop N rate ppm ppm ppm ppm lb/ac lb/ac lb/ac lb/ac Spring 2010 soil tests Recommendations for 60 bu/ac wheat Canola 50% 14.0 132 10.5 14.0 62 30 15 5 Canola 100% 14.0 130 10.5 12.5 58 32 15 5 Peas 50% 10.5 116 10.0 7.0 63 35 15 5 Peas 100% 13.0 108 9.5 17.5 66 32 22 5 LSD0.05 3.84 24.8 2.15 29.91 15.0 6.5 5.6 0 CV 9.4 6.41 6.7 73.7 7.6 6.3 10.5 0

Canola Canola Peas Peas LSD0.05 CV

50% 100% 50% 100%

Fall 2010 soil tests 9.0 140 15.5 8.5 138 16.0 9.0 118 11.5 9.5 122 14.0 5.51 39.1 5.36 19.2 9.5 11.8

6.5 8.0 8.5 8.0 6.09 24.7

Recommendations for 45 bu/ac canola 74 42 20 35 76 45 20 35 74 45 20 40 75 45 20 35 7.12 5.63 0 0 3.0 4.0 0 0