Canola Response to Enhanced Efficiency Nitrogen Fertilizer Products and Blends

Term: 1 Year, beginning 2024
Status: Ongoing
Researcher(s): Chris Holzapfel, IHARF; Brianne McInnes/Ishita Patel, NARF; Zoe Galbraith/Robin Lokken, CLC; Koralie Mack/Jessica Enns, WARC; Gursahib Singh, ICDC; Amber Wall/Brian Nybo, WCA; Mike Hall, ECRF
SaskCanola Investment: $90,000
Total Project Cost: $90,000
Funding Partners: N/A

Objective

To demonstrate the effects of several side-banded enhanced efficiency nitrogen (N) fertilizer products and blends, relative to untreated urea, on canola establishment, yield, and quality. 

Project Description

The EEF products we propose to demonstrate are widely available and have shown to be effective for their intended purposes in both the scientific literature and other extension material. The potential agronomic advantages over untreated urea, however, often vary depending on how they are used, and the specific environmental conditions encountered.  While EEF products are more likely to be advantageous when timing and/or placement leaves the N relatively susceptible to environmental loss, they can also be beneficial with spring in-soil banding, a practice which is recognized as one of the most effective and efficient options. 

Nitrogen fertilizer management has long been amongst the most important considerations for Saskatchewan grain farmers and canola is one of the largest users of this nutrient. Optimizing N fertilizer use efficiency is more important than ever with record high fertilizer prices and increasing government and societal pressure to minimize greenhouse gas emissions associated with N fertilization. Adoption of EEF products will continue to increase and farmers will benefit from understanding the mechanisms of N loss they are most susceptible to and how EEFs differ in their ability to reduce said losses. To varying degrees, the products we propose to demonstrate have been evaluated in numerous applied-research demonstrations conducted by IHARF and other Agri-ARM members over the years, often in combination with contrasting application timings or placement methods. Nitrogen placement has generally been more important than N form with respect to yield/protein and EEF products have shown the greatest potential to be beneficial when combined with sub-optimal timing or placement. This project will build upon past and ongoing projects focused on 4R nitrogen management, but with a greater focus on these fundamentally different N formulations as opposed to timing/placement options.