Cyclic Yield Stability of Ley Farming System in Northern Quebec

Abstract

Predicted climate change is a threat to dairy farming operations in northern Quebec. Soil conservation measures and the timeframe of crop management may contribute to reducing yield variability and also support dairy herd populations. Our objective was to compare annual and cyclic barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and forage yield stability for 3‐yr ley farming system (barley‐mixed, forage‐mixed, forage) over 24 yr of experimentation under contrasting soil conservation practices. Treatments were chisel or moldboard plowing, and mineral fertilization (MIN) or liquid dairy manure (LDM) applied cyclically (across eight 3‐yr cycles) at 85 to 209 kg LDM‐N ha−1 and 90 to 146 kg MIN‐N ha−1 to forage and 87 to 127 kg LDM‐N ha−1 and 70 kg MIN‐N ha−1 to barley. Yield stability assessment was initialized in 1993, 1994, and 1995 and ended in 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively. While the cyclic assessment showed no significant effect of tillage practice, LDM outperformed MIN, confirming the benefits of manure‐based ley farming systems for dairy farming. Coefficients of variation ranged from 7.8% to 14.4% for barley grain yield, 14.4% to 18.7% for barley straw yield, and 11.8% to 15.3% for forage yield. Coefficients of variation were reduced by factors of 1.86 ± 0.57, 1.87 ± 0.24, and 2.00 ± 0.25 for grain, straw, and forage, respectively, using cyclic assessments. To face the more frequent extreme meteorological events predicted by regional climatic models, feed supply could be stabilized locally and regionally at cyclic rather than yearly timescales to support dairy farming. Core Ideas Long term 24‐year experiment comparing annual and cyclic grain and forage yield stability. Cyclic assessment of yield stability provide low coefficient of variation for grain, straw, and forages. Crop supply and storage could be managed on a cyclic, rather than yearly basis.

Long-Term Effects of Animal Manures on Nutrient Recovery and Soil Quality in Acid Typic Hapludalf under No-Till Conditions

“…The N-based application of animal manures has led to the excessive soil accumulation of P, Cu, and Zn [21,28] and has contributed to the eutrophication of surface waters [29]. Long-term experiments can assess a system's sustainability by monitoring the effects of fertilizer treatments on yield stability, nutrient management, soil chemical quality [30][31][32][33], and long-lasting carryover effects [34].…”

Potassium transformation in clay soil with contrasting K budgets in long‐term experiment

“…In Quebec, Giroux and Lemieux (2000) suggested that fertilizer K management should not only consider crop response to K fertilization, but also soil K buildup and maintenance assisted by K budget and soil test K, cationic balance with Ca and Mg, and the balance between N and K fertilization. While MIN led to a negative K budget without any forage yield loss during 27 yr of experimentation at the same site (Damar et al., 2019), adding fertilizer K in soils with high illite‐like minerals have not necessarily an effect on forage yields (Ziadi, Simard, Tran, & Allard, 2001). It was also reported elsewhere that small or no K fertilizer application could maintain an adequate yield level of grass–clover leys over 40‐yr period of experiment in clayey soil (Andersson et al., 2007).…”

“…72 • 33′ W) and ended in 2016 (after 27 yr). After discarding the 1989-1992 period following initiation (Damar et al, 2019), the monitoring period extended from 1993 to 2016. The climate is frigid continental.…”

“…There were two tillage practices (chisel plow, CP; and moldboard plow, MP) and two fertilizer sources (liquid dairy manure, LD; and mineral fertilizer, MIN). The design comprised cycles of 1 yr of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) followed by 2 yr of mixed legume-grass forages (Damar et al, 2019). As the three crop phases were present every year, there was a total of 48 plots.…”