. 2004. Barley dry matter yield, crop uptake, and soil nutrients under fresh and composted manure containing straw or wood-chip bedding. Can. J. Plant. Sci. 84: 987-999. Limited information exists on the effect of fresh versus composted beef cattle manure containing straw or wood chips on barley (Hordeum vulgare) yield, nutrient uptake, and soil nutrient status in the Great Plains region of North America. Barley was grown on an irrigated clay loam soil in southern Alberta from 1999 to 2001. The treatments were three rates (13, 39, 77 Mg dry material per hectare) of fresh manure (FM) or composted manure (CM) containing either straw (ST) or wood-chip (WD) bedding, one inorganic (IN) fertilizer treatment (100 kg N ha -1 , 17 kg P ha -1 ), and a control treatment; applied in the fall of 1998, 1999, and 2000. Dry matter yield was not significantly (P > 0.05) influenced by manure type or bedding material. Crop protein was 7% higher under FM (12.7 g kg -1 ) than CM (11.9 g kg -1 ) in 2001, and crop N uptake was 11 to 13% higher for CM-ST (171.3 kg ha -1 ) and FM-WD (174.9 kg ha -1 ) than CM-WD (154.7 kg ha -1 ) over the 3 yr. Soil available N was 20 to 261% higher for FM than CM at the 39 and 77 Mg ha -1 rates, and it was 62 to 199% higher for FM than CM in 2000 and 2001. Soil available N was 48 to 57% higher for ST than WD at the two higher application rates, and it was 26 to 65% higher for ST than WD in all 3 yr. Overall, manure type and bedding influenced certain crop and soil parameters, and higher available soil N under FM and ST indicated a potential for greater mineralization under these treatments. On manque de données sur l'incidence du fumier de bovins frais ou composté renfermant de la paille ou des copeaux de bois sur le rendement de l'orge (Hordeum vulgare), l'absorption des nutriments par la plante et le bilan d'éléments nutritifs dans le sol pour la région nord-américaine des grandes plaines. De 1999 à 2001, les auteurs ont cultivé de l'orge sur un loam argileux irrigué dans le sud de l'Alberta. À l'automne de 1998, 1999 et 2000, ils ont appliqué à la culture trois quantités (13, 39 ou 77 Mg de matière sèche par hectare) de fumier frais (FF) ou composté (FC) à base de paille (P) ou de copeaux de bois (CB), un engrais minéral (100 kg de N et 17 kg de P par hectare) ou un traitement témoin. Le type de fumier ou la nature de la litière n'agit pas de manière significative (P > 0,05) sur le rendement en matière sèche. En 2001, l'orge obtenue avec le FF avait 7 % de protéines (12,7 g par kg) de plus que l'orge cultivée avec du FC (11,9 g par kg); les combinaisons FC-P et FF-CB ont aussi permis à la plante d'absorber 11 à 13 % plus de N que la combinaison FC-CB au cours des trois années de l'expérience (171,3 et 174,9 kg par hectare c. 154,7 kg par hectare, respectivement). L'usage de FF a accru la quantité de N disponible dans le sol de 20 à 261 % par rapport au FC, aux taux de 39 et de 77 Mg par hectare, et de 62 à 199 %, en 2000 et en 2001. Comparativement aux copeaux de bois, la paille augmente la concentra...

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Carabids were sampled in 2000 (pretreatment year) and 2003-2005 in experimental plots in southern Alberta, Canada, after a rotation of beans, wheat, and potato under sustainable and conventional farming practices. Each phase of the rotation was present in every year. Crop type had a stronger effect than sustainable treatment on carabid-expected species richness, diversity, and species composition. However, carabid activity density was consistently higher in plots under sustainable treatments than those maintained conventionally. Potato plots, which were sprayed with insecticide for pest control, showed a significantly lower carabid activity density than the other crops. These results support other studies showing the beneficial effect of sustainable farming on activity density of carabid beetles.

Carabids were sampled in 2000 (pretreatment year) and 2003-2005 in experimental plots in southern Alberta, Canada, after a rotation of beans, wheat, and potato under sustainable and conventional farming practices. Each phase of the rotation was present in every year. Crop type had a stronger effect than sustainable treatment on carabid-expected species richness, diversity, and species composition. However, carabid activity density was consistently higher in plots under sustainable treatments than those maintained conventionally. Potato plots, which were sprayed with insecticide for pest control, showed a significantly lower carabid activity density than the other crops. These results support other studies showing the beneficial effect of sustainable farming on activity density of carabid beetles.

Forage mixtures containing legume out-yield monocultures, fix atmospheric N, and have lower C footprints. However, evidence-based information on creating forage mixtures by direct seeding legumes into existing pastures is limited and bloat-free legumes non-existent. Traditionally, pastures requiring improvement in western Canada were fully replaced by breaking up the old stand and re-seeding. With new and improved forage cultivars, better seeding equipment, and increased knowledge about pasture management, there is a growing interest among producers in rejuvenating pastures instead of replacing them. Pasture rejuvenation refers to the improvement in biomass productivity and/or nutritional quality of existing pasture without removing the existing vegetation. This can be done through fertilizer application, which is generally expensive and causes negative environmental impacts. Amelioration of compacted pastureland via mechanical aeration is short-lived and can lead to weed problems. As an alternative, direct seeding of productive, nutritive and bloat-free legume species into existing pasture is an attractive option for pasture rejuvenation. For high performance grazing systems, identification of suitable bloat-free legumes and methods for direct seeding into old grass and legume stands will be essential strategies. This review includes information on the benefits of mixed pastures and seeks possible methods of introducing bloat-free forage legumes into existing pastures in western Canada for rapid improvement in productivity and quality while positively influencing animal, soil and environmental health.