Which approach makes the most cents? Evaluating the effect of land conversion practices on soil health and yields of barley and oats

哪种方法最赚钱？

• 批准号: 549567-2019
• 负责人: Diochon, Amanda
• 金额: $ 2.66万
• 依托单位: Lakehead University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Alliance Grants
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=721150
• 关键词: approach; makes; most; cents; Evaluating

Climate change is creating opportunities for agricultural expansion in northern regions, which will demand the conversion of forest and scrub-brush to productive fields. Historically conversion has resulted in losses to the "bank" of soil organic matter of up to 50% because of lower returns of organic matter to the soil and conditions that favor decomposition of existing stores. These losses presumably erode soil health because of the key role organic matter plays in determining the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil, the heart of its well-being. Leaving woody biomass on-site through the process of mulching and subsoiling could mitigate these losses, while being the most rapid and potentially cost-effective method for land conversion, but there are knowledge gaps that beg for the proposed research. Significant declines in yield in the second year after mulching have required the application of large amounts of fertilizer, the longer term benefits of leaving organic matter on-site have not been studied, and it is unknown if established indicators of soil health e.g. Cornell Soil Health Assessment (CSHA) are applicable in more northern climates. This project will address these gaps by: 1. examining the longer term effects of land conversion on soil health and soil organic matter and identifying the best indicators for monitoring change in soil health in Northern Ontario through measurements and comparisons of indicators of soil health on farms that have mulched and cleared conventionally in Northern Ontario, 2. establishing a field trial to examine the effects of woody residue incorporation (timing and placement), rate of fertilizer application, and rotation strategy on yields of oats and barley, two key grain crops in Northern Ontario, soil health and soil organic matter stores, and 3. determining the profit margins of land clearing practices to identify the most effective, economical and sustainable approach for Ontario's grain farmers.

气候变化正在为北部地区的农业扩张创造机会，这将需要将森林和灌木丛转变为多产的田地。从历史上看，由于有机物质对土壤的回报较低，以及有利于现有储存的分解的条件，转换导致土壤有机质损失高达50%。这些损失可能会侵蚀土壤健康，因为有机质在决定土壤的物理、化学和生物特性方面发挥着关键作用，而土壤是土壤健康的核心。通过覆盖和深松过程将木质生物质留在原地可以减少这些损失，同时是最快速和潜在的成本效益最高的土地转用方法，但有一些知识空白需要进行拟议的研究。覆盖后第二年产量的显著下降需要大量化肥的使用，将有机质留在原地的长期效益尚未得到研究，也不清楚已建立的土壤健康指标，如康奈尔土壤健康评估(CSHA)是否适用于更北部的气候。该项目将通过以下方式解决这些差距：1.通过对安大略省北部常规覆盖和清理的农场土壤健康指标的测量和比较，研究土地转换对土壤健康和土壤有机质的长期影响，并确定监测安大略省北部土壤健康变化的最佳指标；2.建立田间试验，研究木质残渣掺入(时机和放置)、化肥施用量和轮作策略对燕麦和大麦产量的影响，燕麦和大麦是安大略省北部的两种主要粮食作物，土壤健康和土壤有机质储存，以及3.确定土地清理实践的利润率，以确定最有效的，为安大略省的种粮农民提供经济和可持续的方法。