Foliar N-Fixing Biological Trial for Canola
Term: 2023 growing season
Objective
The objective of this field-scale trial is to determine if farms can see agronomic and economic benefits from applying nitrogen-fixing bacteria product in wheat or canola. Producer-cooperators will determine the value of utilizing this product under the typical management practices and environmental conditions of their operation.
Product
Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus Envita, Syngenta
Treatment
The two main treatments compared crop growth and productivity with and without an application of a biological product under a normal operational rate of applied nitrogen (N) fertilizer. Two optional treatments further compared the performance of the product with a reduced rate of applied N fertilizer. The decision to include two or four treatments were dependent on each cooperator’s objective for conducting this trial.
Protocols required that treatments were replicated and applied in randomized strips in the field. Option A was replicated a minimum of four times, for a total of eight strips. Option B was replicated a minimum of three times for a total of 12 strips. All strips were otherwise managed the same agronomically including seeding date, variety, seeding depth, seed treatment and pesticide application. The layout of Option B was dependent on the equipment width and capability of the operation for prescription-based application. Data collected by farmer cooperators included: spring soil sample, spring plant density, general observations throughout the season, weather data, yield and quality.
