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This program will have five separate trials. Each trial will aim to identify criteria for maximum crop performance and will provide a baseline to adapt and develop planters to seed a specific crop or crop group.
Locations
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| Brooks, AB |
| Lethbridge, AB |
The 5 research trials encompassed in this research program are as follows:
Precision Pulses: 4-year small plot research trial
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This trial will study precision planter agronomy with a variety of different pulse crops, and will examine row spacing, seeding rate, agronomy, etc.
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The trial will highlight whether precision planting can mitigate disease and improve crop uniformity, seed quality and yield, essential for industry success.
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Split block design with 20 treatments x 4 years x 3 locations
- Factor A Seeding System: precision planter, air drill (12" spacing)
- Factor B Crop: peas, lentils, soybeans, faba beans, chickpeas (main blocks)
- Factor C Seeding Rate: best practice, half rate
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Precision Durum: 4-year small plot research trial
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This trial will study precision planters with durum wheat, including row spacing, seeding rate, agronomy, etc.
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This project will address if planters can help durum overcome stagnant yields in recent years and will focus on irrigated locations to maximize yield potential.
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24 treatments x 4 years x 3 locations
- Factor A Seeding System: precision planter, air drill (12" spacing)
- Factor B Seeding Rate: High (400 seeds/m^2), normal (200 seeds/m^2)
- Factor C Fertility: maximum fertility (1.5X N, P, K, S + micros with 0.5X N as split app), normal recommended 1X (replacement values of NPKS all at seeding)
- Factor D Fungicides and Growth Regulators: Untreated check, Growth regulator, Growth regulator + fungicide
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Precision Corn: 4-year small plot research trial
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This trial will Farming Smarter's recent research into grain corn agronomy using planters and will explore optimal seeding practices using advanced tillage, seeding dates, and varieties.
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Experiment 1 Optimal management of tillage system, seeding date and hybrid: 12 treatments x 4 years x 2 locations
Factor A System: Strip-till, no-till
- Factor B Seeding Date: April 15, May 1, May 15
- Factor C Hybrid Selection: 1900 CHU hybrid, 2300 CHU hybrid
- Corn will be planted in 20 inch rows at 25,000 seeds/acre with a Monosem precision planter
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Precision Hemp: two 4-year small plot research trials
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These trials will assess optimal hemp production based on planter type and seeding rate.
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It will test safe rates of seed place liquid phosphorus, and evaluate plant responses such as height, stem thickness, male/female dynamics, CBD, etc.
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Experiment 1 Hemp seeding Comparison: 1 location x 4 years x 4 treatments
- Factor A Seeder: precision planter, air drill (12" spacing)
- Factor B Seeding Rate: BMP (250 seeds/m^2), half rate (125 seeds/m^2)
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Experiment 2 Safe rates of P: 1 location x 4 years x 8 treatments
- 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60 kg/ha P with seed
- 20 kg/ha with seed, 20 kg/ha side banded (common practice)
- 40 kg/ha all side banded (common practice)
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Field Tested - Precision Planter Research: 4-year field scale research trial
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This trial takes key findings from Farming Smarter's small plot precision planter research program and evaluates performance in a real-world field environment, fostering adaptation development and adoption.
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Design: 3 field scale locations x 4 years each
- Factor A Seeder: planter, air seeder (use producers 10-15" spacing)
- Factor B Seeding Rate: Standard (industry standard for crop being studied), low (half of industry standard for crop being studied)
- Year 1 will focus on canola, year 2 and 3 will seed different crops to be determined on the basis of compelling preliminary results from small plot trials
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