To provide information on effects of different zero-till rotations including pulse crops on net returns and yields. It provides data on the impact of seed treatments and foliar fungicides when used within these rotations.

The zero-till trial was set up in Minto, Manitoba involving four different crops. 'The crops were arranged into the following crop rotations to be studied over four years, with every crop ("year") being represented each year:

1. Wheat, Wheat, Wheat Peas
2. Wheat, Canola, Wheat, Peas
3. Wheat Lentils, Wheat, Peas
4. Wheat, Wheat, Wheat, Lentils
5. Wheat, Wheat, Peas
6. Wheat, Wheat, Lentils
7. Wheat, Canola, Peas
8. Wheat, Lentils, Peas
9. Wheat, Peas
10. Wheat, Lentils
11. *Wheat, Peas, Canola

*Rotation 11 was added in 1995.

In addition to each crop treatment there was also a seed treatment/no seed treatment and foliar fungicide /no foliar fungicide treatment superimposed on the rotations.

The results of the pulse rotation trials indicate that net profitability on an annualized average basis could range from $3.50/acre/year to $123.00/acre/year (Appendix 1. Table 1). The main factors affecting the net profit were relative crop price, relative crop yield including responsiveness to fungicides, and-crop specific inputs like fertilizer, seed, herbicides, labor, and machinery. 1997 farm gate prices were used in the analysis which do not convey earlier profitability of lentils in 1994 when they were 300/lb as opposed to 120/lb in 1997.

Net Dollar returns (Appendix 1. Table 1) are from Manitoba Agriculture Estimated Crop Production Costs modified to include cost of seed shipment, foliar fungicides, and custom application of foliar fungicides. Market prices used are: Peas $5.25/bu, Lentils 12¢/lb, Canola $8.05, and Wheat $4.05.

Findings and a detailed discussion on disease are found in Appendix 2 and are based on 1997 data. This is the first year that all rotations have completed one cycle and provide the most comprehensive results.

The rotation with best net return was the wheat-peas-canola rotation followed by the wheat- canola-peas rotation. High sclerotinia disease pressure may negatively influence yields in the future because both peas and canola are susceptible. The next best rotation was wheat-canola- wheat-peas. All of these benefited from the high 1997 market price of canola. When wheat made up 50% or more of a rotation it lowered the net profit because of a comparably lower market value.

Yields of all crops were influenced by the previous crop, irrespective of the rotation. Peas generally yielded highest following wheat. Lentils were best following wheat on peas. Canola yields were slightly better on wheat than peas. Wheat yields varied greatly depending on the rotation but were considerably lower following wheat.

Seed treatments can be used to increase net profits. They have the greatest effect in poor rotations which have higher disease pressure (See rotation 1 and 4, Appendix 1, Table 1). When a crop is present more than once in three years, seed treatments significantly increased yields of that crop. 'Me effect is lessened as time between plantings of the same crop is 'increased.

Foliar fungicides did lead to increased yields, especially when used in lentils. Rotations that did not include lentils did show yield increases, but the cost of fungicide and application led to a decrease in net dollars profit.

The combination of seed treatment and foliar fungicides generally led to the highest yielding crops but not always the highest return, due in part to the high chemical and application costs. While they led to yield increases in all rotations, use of both seed treatments and foliar fungicides were most beneficial to overall farm profitability when used with the best rotations rather than as a prop for poorer rotations. Profits can be increased further when decision making is influenced by effective field scouting and disease pressure (including varietal susceptibility) on each crop in the rotation separately.

Yield and net profits of zero-till crops are impacted upon significantly by rotation and fungicides. Taking time to select and implement suitable rotations to increase profits is fundamental to farm profitability. Careful use of fungicides within good rotations, based on need, can further enhance net profitability of a farm.

Table 1. Effect of Seed Treatments and Foliar Fungicides on Net Returns ($) and Yields (bu/acre) in Various Pulse Rotations

P=Field Pea L=Lentil C=Canola W=Wheat

• All Yields are given in kg/ha
• NST - No Seed Treatment
• ST - Seed Treatment
• NF - No Fungicide
• F - Fungicide
• In 1994 only a Fungicide, No Fungicide comparison was made. Rotation #11 was added in 1995