Journal of Agricultural Science; Vol. 16, No. 8; 2024 ISSN 1916-9752 E-ISSN 1916-9760 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education
Once in Three-Year Deep-Banding and Annual Shallow-Banding of P, K and Cu Fertilizer Effects on Crops and Soil Nutrients Kabal Singh Gill1, Gurbir Singh Dhillon2, Jan J. Slaski3, Ken Coles2, Mike Gretzinger2, Shelleen Gerbig1 & Vance Yaremko1 1
SARDA Ag Research, Donnelly, Alberta, Canada
2
Farming Smarter, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
3
InnoTech Alberta, Vegreville, Alberta, Canada
Correspondence: Kabal Singh Gill, SARDA Ag Research, P.O. Box 118, Donnelly, Alberta, T0H 1G0, Canada. E-mail: consultant@sarda.ca Received: May 3, 2024 doi:10.5539/jas.v16n8p1
Accepted: June 9, 2024
Online Published: July 15, 2024
URL: https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v16n8p1
Abstract Deep-banding of the immobile nutrients (P, K, and Cu) is considered one technique that may improve crop production under temperate dryland systems, where moister soil conditions prevail at seeding followed by relatively drier soil during the growing period. The objectives were to compare growth and yield of canola (Brassica napus L.), field pea’s (Pisum sativum L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.); and nutrient concentrations in crops and soil from once in three-year deep-banding (12.5-15 cm) and annual shallow-banding (3.75 to 5 cm diagonally deeper than seeding depth) of P, K and Cu under direct seeding systems. Small plot trials were conducted at the three sites; representing Brown (Dark Brown Chernozem), Black (Black Chernozem), and Grey (Dark Grey Luvisol) soil zones in Alberta, Canada; which represent crop growing conditions for most areas of western Canada. The nine treatments were annual shallow-banding and once in three year deep-banding of P, K, Cu and PKCU nutrients plus a control (no P, K, or Cu fertilizer). Applied thrice the recommended rate for deep-banding (in 2018) treatments and the recommended rate for the annual shallow-banding treatments in 2018, 2019 and 2020. All three phases of pea’s-wheat-canola rotation were grown at each site to generate nine years of data for each crop. The density, height, NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) and biomass of plants, yield for crops and nutrient concentrations in seed and biomass of crops and soil showed significantly positive responses to P, K, and PKCu additions in some cases; generally not linked to the deep or shallow placement of tested nutrients. Changes in nutrient concentrations in seed and biomass of crops in response to nutrient additions were not consistent. Treatments with P showed response more often than with the K and Cu. The soil P and Cu concentrations increased in response to their additions in some cases, but no change was observed from the K addition. Once in three-year deep-banding or annual shallow-banding methods were equally effective. The findings provide another option (once in three year deep-banding) for applying the P, K and Cu fertilizers. Keywords: banding fertilizer, Cu, canola, growth, K, P, pea’s, soil nutrients, wheat, yield 1. Introduction Under dry land agriculture in the western provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) of the Canadian Prairies, relatively moister soil conditions prevail at seeding time of crops. With few exception, it is followed by drier soil conditions during the growing season; due to more water extracted by crop (evapotranspiration) than rainfall during the growing season. Direct seeding producers band fertilizers at about 5 cm soil depth, which results in nutrient stratification (non-uniform distribution with soil depth), with usually higher concentrations near the soil surface than the deeper soil layers. Provincial websites for the Canadian prairies suggest immobile nutrients (P, K, and Cu) placement at deeper depth than seeding may improve availability under dry conditions because fertilizer is in a moist part of the root zone for an extended period. But, there is little information on deep-banding (12.5-15 cm) of immobile nutrients under direct seeding systems. Long-term direct seeding has been associated with increased stratification of nutrients (Blevins et al., 1986). Stratification of P and K was problematic in reduced tillage systems in general and in no-till systems in particular 1