Zero Tillage and Fertilizer Application....Broadcast Application

Ron Bell, Birtle, MB

  1. History
    1. Prior to 1992 fall-banded with either urea or ammonia
    2. Fall of 1991 did not get all of our acres fall-banded
    3. Spring of 1992 broadcast 34-0-0 on remaining acres
    4. 1993-1998 broadcast most acres
    5. 1998-2004 broadcast except canola & flax fields

B) Rational for broadcasting

    1. Believed then and now that the only soil disturbance allowed in the spring should be for seeding
      1. Early seeding is paramount
      2. Cannot afford any moisture loss prior to seeding
      3. Spring tillage encourages weed growth
    2. Seed placement should never be compromised
      1. Quick and vigorous seed emergence very, very important
      2. Shallow seeding most efficient
    3. In 1992 yield and protein was greater on broadcast acres, with de-nitrification appearing in some places on fall-banded fields
    4. Soil testing and above average yields indicated broadcast worked very well
    5. Application costs are minimal
    6. Application time is short
    7. New technology makes it easier
      1. GPS Guidance
      2. Valmar or boom type spreaders

C) System

1) Soil test in the fall

2) Band canola & flax acres with ammonia in the fall
      1. Harrow in spring before seeding

3) Rest of acres get harrowed in fall and perhaps in spring if heavy

4) Straw management is critical
    1. Straw on surface conserves moisture
    2. Too much straw can be too wet or not conducive to seeding (piling up)

      3. 5) Seeding

    3. Morris Maxim Air Drill 10 in. spacing
    4. Knife opener
    5. Seed-placed phosphate and sulfur and potash
    1. Broadcast 34-0-0 after the crop has emerged

      2. D) Results

      1. Able to better gauge crop potential and make adjustments
      2. Doesn’t feed the weeds before crop emergence
      3. 34-0-0 performs better season-long
      4. Less chance of de-nitrification
      5. Seems to promote higher protein
      6. Yields appear to be above average for area

g. System appears to now require less nitrogen helping to balance high cost of product

E) Conclusion
    1. Simple
    2. Effective
        1. Note: Broadcast has perhaps become the norm in our area
        2. In 1993 we were the only farm using broadcast in our area

iii. In 2003 our fertilizer dealer broadcast 45,000 acres and had 8,000 acres with rental units