Nitrogen fertilization of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the drier regions of the Canadian prairies is currently accomplished by banding urea or anhydrous ammonia at seeding or broadcasting urea in early spring. This study was conducted to determine if the efficacy of urea could be improved by using polymer‐coated urea (PCU) or treatment with urease inhibitor N‐(n‐butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT). Two field experiments were conducted for 3 yr on wheat stubble and on fallow at Bow Island and at Lethbridge. Grain yield and protein concentration response of winter wheat was determined for noncoated urea (NCU) and PCU banded in the soil at seeding at seven rates from 30 to 210 kg N ha−1 (Exp. 1) and for four N fertilizer types broadcast on the soil surface in early spring at rates of 30, 60, and 90 kg N ha−1 (Exp. 2): NCU, ammonium nitrate (AN), NBPT‐treated urea (NTU), and PCU. When N fertilizer was banded at seeding, grain yield was higher for PCU than NCU, but differences were small (<100 kg ha−1, <5%) and likely not due to reduced N losses. Grain protein concentration was unaffected by fertilizer type. When N fertilizer was broadcast on the soil surface in the spring, grain yield and protein concentration were similar for NCU, AN, and NTU, but reduced for PCU due to excessive delay in N release. The negligible impact of polymer coating or treatment with NBPT on urea efficacy reflects the low risk of urea N loss in this region.

. Controlled-release urea for winter wheat in southern Alberta. Can. J. Soil Sci. 87: 85-91. The recent development of low-cost controlled-release urea (CRU) may provide additional options for N fertilization of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Two field experiments were conducted over 3 yr at three locations in southern Alberta to evaluate different options of applying CRU to winter wheat. In the first experiment, three N fertilizers (20-day CRU, 40-day CRU and urea) were seed-placed and side-banded at the time of seeding at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg N ha -1 . Stand densities were substantially reduced by seedrow application of urea at rates greater than 30 kg N ha -1 , but were unaffected by seedrow application of CRU, even at the highest rate of N application. When N fertilizer was side-banded, stand densities were unaffected by fertilizer type or N rate. Yield gains due to N application were reduced by application of high rates of seed-placed urea, but similar for other treatments. Grain protein concentration and N uptake were also similar for CRU and seed-placed urea. In the second experiment, three N fertilizers (CRU, urea and ammonium nitrate) were broadcast at 30 kg N ha -1 in early spring on plots that had received 0, 30 or 60 kg N ha -1 of CRU at the time of seeding. Inadequate release of spring broadcast CRU was indicated by reduced grain protein concentrations relative to conventional N fertilizers. Under the conditions experienced in our study, CRU substantially increased the maximum safe rate of seed-placed urea, provided minimal benefits to N response relative to side-banded urea, and was less effective than conventional N fertilizers when broadcast in early spring. . Trois années durant, les auteurs ont effectué deux expériences sur le terrain à trois endroits du sud de l'Alberta afin d'évaluer les diverses possibilités de bonification du blé d'hiver avec de l'ULL. Pour la première expérience, ils ont appliqué trois engrais N (ULL 20 jours, ULL 40 jours et urée) avec la semence ou en bande latérale au moment des semis à raison de 0, 30, 60, 90 ou 120 kg de N par hectare. L'application d'urée aux lignes de semis à un taux de plus de 30 kg de N par hectare diminue sensiblement la densité du peuplement, mais cela n'est pas le cas quand on utilise de l'ULL, même aux taux les plus élevés. Quand l'engrais N est appliqué en bande latérale, le type d'engrais et le taux d'application n'affectent pas la densité du peuplement. L'application d'une quantité élevée d'urée avec la semence réduit les gains de rendement associés à l'application d'un engrais N, mais les autres traitements donnent des gains analogues. L'ULL et l'application d'urée avec la semence donnent aussi une concentration de protéines dans le grain et un taux d'absorption du N similaires. Lors de la deuxième expérience, les auteurs ont appliqué trois engrais N (ULL, urée et nitrate d'ammonium) à la volée à raison de 30 kg de N par hectare au début du printemps sur des parcelles bonifiées avec 0, 30 ou 60 kg de N par hectare sous forme d'UL...

. 2007. Efficacy of high seeding rates to increase grain yield of winter wheat and winter triticale in southern Alberta. Can. J. Plant Sci. 87: 503-507. Field trials were conducted for 3 yr (2002/2003 to 2004/2005) at three locations in southern Alberta to determine the impact of seeding rate and opener type on plant stand and grain yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and winter triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack). Responses were determined for an optimum date of seeding in early to mid-September and for a late seeding in early to mid-October. Conditions were generally favourable for crop establishment, winter survival and growth, and average site yields ranged from 4.5 to 8.9 Mg ha -1 . The disc opener increased spring plant density by 12.5% compared with the hoe opener, but did not affect grain yield. Spring plant density was 23% lower for winter triticale than winter wheat and 20% lower for October-seeded cereals than September-seeded cereals. Late seeding reduced grain yields of winter wheat and winter triticale by an average of 18 and 11%, respectively. Increases in target seeding rates from 150 to 350 plants m -2 (approximately 70 to 160 kg ha -1 ) did not affect grain yield and quality of September-seeded cereals, but increased grain yield of late-seeded crops by an average of 5 kg per kg increase in seeding rate. High seeding rates did not fully compensate for yield losses caused by late seeding. . Ils ont déter-miné la réaction de la culture à la date optimale d'ensemencement, du début à la mi-septembre, et à une date plus tardive, du début à la mi-octobre. Les conditions étaient généralement favorables à l'établissement de la culture, à sa survie à l'hiver et à sa croissance, le rendement moyen variant de 4,5 à 8,9 Mg par hectare. L'usage d'un rayonneur à disques accroît la densité du peuplement au printemps de 12,5 % comparativement à l'usage d'un soc, mais le rendement grainier n'est pas touché. La densité du peuplement printanier de triticale est de 23 % inférieure à celle du blé, tandis que celle des céréales semées en octobre est de 20 % inférieure à celle des céréales semées en septembre. Des semis tardifs diminuent le rendement grainier du blé et de la triticale d'hiver d'en moyenne 18 % et 11 %, respectivement. Porter la densité des semis de 150 à 350 plants par m 2 (environ 70 à 160 kg par hectare) n'affecte pas le rendement grainier ni la qualité des céréales semées en septembre, mais accroît le rendement grainier de celles semées tardivement d'en moyenne 5 kg par kg de semences supplémentaires. Une densité de semis élevée ne compense pas entièrement les pertes de rendement attribuables aux semis tardifs. Mots clés: Triticum aestivum, × Triticosecale, densité du peuplement, rendementWinter cereals generally outyield spring cereals on the Canadian prairies because early spring growth improves water use efficiency and crop growth duration (Entz and Fowler 1991). Winter cereals may also reduce soil erosion, herbicide requirements and cost of production. However, the risk of winterkil...

It is unknown if winter pea (Pisum sativum L.) and winter lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) are feasible cropping options in Alberta. Field experiments were conducted at six locations in southern and central Alberta, Canada, between 2008 and 2012, to determine the adaptability of winter pea and lentil. Two winter pea cultivars, Specter and Windham, and one winter lentil cultivar, Morton, were seeded at three fall planting dates and three seeding rates. Spring cultivars were grown for comparison. In southern Alberta, winter pea and lentil yielded up to 39% more than spring types. The highest winter pea yield was achieved when planting was completed during the first 3 wk of September. The highest winter lentil yield was achieved when planting was completed in the second and third weeks of September. Seeding rate had little or no impact on yield; therefore, winter pea should be seeded at 75 plants m−2 and winter lentil at 110 plants m−2. Seed was analyzed to compare constituent parameters. There were minor differences in the composition of winter and spring pulses. Windham had lower starch but higher resistant starch, protein, crude fat, and ash content compared with spring pea cultivars. Specter had higher resistant starch but was similar to Cutlass for all other parameters. Morton had a higher starch content than CDC Redberry; however, starch quality was similar. Winter pulses have potential to create new and profitable opportunities for growers in the Bow Island and Lethbridge areas of southern Alberta.

McKenzie, R. H., Bremer, E., Middleton, A. B., Beres, B., Yoder, C., Hietamaa, C., Pfiffner, P., Kereliuk, G., Pauly, D. and Henriquez, B. 2014. Agronomic practices for bioethanol production from spring triticale in Alberta. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 15–22. Triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) is an attractive crop for biofuel production due to its high grain yield potential, weed competitiveness, and drought tolerance. Field plot studies were conducted at seven locations across Alberta from 2008 to 2010 to determine optimum agronomic practices (seeding date, seeding rate and N fertilizer rate) for grain and starch production of spring triticale. The yield penalty from delayed seeding was variable, with an average yield decline of only 0.1% per day. Significant yield benefits from increasing seeding rates from 100 to 500 viable seeds m−2 were obtained at site-years with more than 200 mm of growing season precipitation, but were inconsistent or negligible at site-years with less than 200 mm of growing season precipitation. Optimum N fertilizer rates for grain production increased with growing season precipitation, but were not correlated with pre-seeding soil extractable NO3-N levels. Starch concentrations were either unaffected or only slightly affected by seeding date, seeding rate or N fertilizer rate. Thus, agronomic practices that were optimum for triticale grain production were also optimum for starch production. Under good growing conditions, grain production of spring triticale was optimum when seeded at 350 to 450 seeds m−2 and N fertilizer rates of 90 to 150 kg N ha−1.