An Opinion from the Saddle: Farmers Already on the Way to Meet Emission Targets

International initiatives towards agricultural sustainability and emission reductions have attempted to get industry to adopt best management practices regarding fertilizer use. In a nutshell, we have been asked to participate in a marathon that we already been involved in for years. In the Western Provinces, Agricultural sector have been implementing management plans which includes the 4R Nutrient Stewardship® (Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place ®) for years. Producers have refined the application of fertilizers at the Right Rate over the last few decades. The plan starts with soil testing to give pro- ducers a baseline to examine what the soil has already available, just like we use a gas gauge on a vehicle to see how much fuel we have in the tank. At this point, producers will establish the soil nutrient management plan. If the soil nutrient levels are more than adequate, a sufficiency plan will be inacted to add the nutrients that will be lacking to produce a healthy crop. When an application is made in a manner to add nutrient levels utilized by the crop for one year of production so the practice doesn’t mine the soil of all of it's nutrient over time, it is called nutrient replacement plan. Last but not least, if soil is severely deficient with nutrient, a soil building plan will be applied, making sure we add at a slightly increased rate so the soil will build up nutrient levels without losing any of the fertilizer through leaching or volatization. Understanding the impact of how fertilizer application affects the plant uptake and fertilizer losses has also improved. Fertilizing is not a cookie cutter situation as placement needs to match the specific nutrient and how they will be stored and utilized in the soil. Broadcasting was very popular in the past, due to it being time, labour, and fuel efficient as well as improving the conversion of elemental Sulfur by the microbes for plant use which compared to sulfates that don’t require conversion. This is where Right Source at Right Place comes into effect as broadcasting comes at a cost. It is where up to a 100% nitrogen (N) will be lost, when not worked in as well as reducing phosphate (P) and Potassium (K) availability to plants if your soil is already too low in those nutrients. Today, 2 nutrient placements are improving fertilizer efficiency. Fertilizer Banding has the advantages of minimizing N loss, increases availability of P and K, and protect the plant from excess nutrient exposure in nutrient deficient soils. But banding requires better/more equipment and is time consuming. Seed Placed Fertilizer improves early nutrient plant uptake (Right Time), reduces (N) loss and allows for a one pass solution. As a disadvantage, it requires more/better equipment, labour and time compared to broadcast and limits the amount of fertilizer that can be applied to a nutrient deprived soil.

The Fertilizer plans aren’t universal, each is tailormade for climate, soil type and nutrient levels, crop being grown, and producer goals. Every decision is based on clear indicators justifying when a fertilizer application will be done and how it will be done. The international community needs to recognize that Prairie Producers evolved over the last century from being a small farmer to an educated entrepreneurs that operate a multimillion-dollar business that includes knowledge of scientific concepts and complex tools with the end goal in protecting both the land and their bottom line. If you want to learn more about 4R Nutrient Stewardship, contact your local qualified Professional Agronomist and/or Certified Crop Advisor or on the internet at https://fertilizercanada.ca/our-focus/advocacy/whatsin-it-4r-me/ .

Sebastien Dutrisac