| Crop | Soybean |
|---|---|
| Start Date | 2017 |
| End Date | 2020 |
| Principal Investigator | Lobb, David, University of Manitoba |
| Total Project Funding | $85,560 |
Research Objectives
1. Assess the effects of land rolling on the potential for wind erosion – soil properties affecting wind erosion (surface roughness, surface and root zone moisture content, and crop residue cover) will be measured, and relative risk will be assessed using wind erosion models. 2. Assess the effects of land rolling on wind erosion – the detachment and transport of wind-eroded sediment will be measured to assess wind erosion and the potential for on-site soil loss and off-site sediment delivery. 3. Assess the effects of wind erosion on soybean production – the abrasion of soybean plants by wind-eroded sediment will be measured to assess the potential impacts of wind erosion on crop health and yield.
Project Description
Land rolling is a practice that is common in bean production, and it is growing in interest and use in soybean production in Manitoba. Land rolling has been shown to increase crop yields by affecting soil conditions in the seed/root zone, and it has also been shown to be an effective means of dealing with stones at the soil surface. These benefits will be examined by the MPSG through their On-Farm Network, and MPSG will be assisted through the proposed activities. The focus of the proposed project will be on the impacts of land rolling on wind erosion.
Wind erosion has been identified as a significant concern with both agronomic and environmental consequences. Soil conditions (soil moisture, surface roughness and crop residue cover) on rolled and non-rolled land will be compared to assess the potential for wind erosion. The detachment and transport of wind-eroded sediment will be measured to assess wind erosion and the potential on-site soil loss and off-site sediment delivery. The abrasion of soybean plants will be measured to assess the potential impacts of wind erosion on crop health and yield. The proposed project is complementary to and will be coordinated with PAMI’s proposed project on the engineering aspects of land rolling in soybean production.