The Rural Voice, 2001-06, Page 51Advice
• The strips should go across any
major variations (topography, soil
type, etc.)
• The strips should be two-thirds of
the normal nitrogen rate applied to
the rest of the field. Yield differences
from the reduced nitrogen application
should be greater than differences
due to field variability, but not give
extreme yield losses.
• Each strip should be as narrow as
possible, but wider than the combine
header.
• Strips must be well marked.
• Measure soil nitrate levels at pre=
plant or, preferably, pre-sidedress
time. This measurement can be at a
benchmark site that will be
resampled year after year, to help
with future nitrogen rate predictions.
Interpreting the Results:
Compare the yields from the
reduced N strips with the yields from
the adjacent full rate strips. DO NOT
compare the reduced N strips with
the average yield of the rest of field -
there will be too much random
variation introduced for the
comparison to mean anything.
If the yields from the reduced rate
strips are the same, or very close to
the yields from the full rate strips,
your normal rate of nitrogen fertilizer
was likely too high for that field that
year. If you cannot identify any
reason why the response to nitrogen
would be lower than normal,
consider reducing N rates next year.
If there is a moderately higher yield
in the strips receiving the full rate of
nitrogen fertilizer, the N rate used
was probably close to the optimum
for that field. If the yield was much
higher in the full N strips, it may
mean that the rate used was below
the optimum for that field. Further
work is needed to identify how large
a yield discrepancy is needed to
indicate that fertilizer rates should be
increased.0
2001 version
of Publication 75
available
By Leslie Huffman
Weed Management Specialist
(Horticultural Crops), OMAFRA
The 2001 edition of the Guide to
Weed Control, Publication 75 from
the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,
Food and Rural Affairs, is now
available.
This popular publication has been
the definitive source of weed control
information for over 50 years. Many
additions and revisions are in this
year's version, including new
herbicides and more information on
Integrated Weed Management
A new format dividing the book
into chapters will help you find what
you need more quickly. Watch for
new chapters for berries, and for
forage crops like millet and sorghum
that horticultural growers may use as
cover crops.
Looking for your herbicide
w company? The list of companies,
their phone numbers and their
webpages are the last thing in the
book — before your spray
application records. Keep this
resource handy for your product
questions.
The 2001 edition of Guide to
Weed Control continues to feature
the spiral binding made popular the
last few years and sports a new cover
photo of a hawkweed. It is available
for $10 + GST. You can order a book
by calling 1-888-4-OMAFRA or visit
our website at www.gov.on.ca/
OMAFRA/english/products/publicat.
html to order yours. Also watch for it
at your local farm supply outlet,
OMAFRA office or government
information centres near you.
Be sure to get your 2001 book -
it's green with a yellow title box.
Last year's purple book is already out
of date!O
Field horsetail
a problem weed
in all parts of Ontario
By Leslie Huffman
Weed Management Specialist
(Horticultural Crops), OMAFRA
Field horsetail is a problem weed
that occurs in all parts of Ontario. It
can grow in many soil types: low
areas in poorly drained soil, or in
sandy or gravelly soils with good
drainage. Because it can tolerate salty
conditions, it grows along many
roadsides.
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JUNE 2001 47