Use of full season soil building rotation crops for building soil organic matter
Project Leads – Ryan Barrett and Morgan McNeil (PEI Potato Board)
Soil Nitrogen Analysis completed by David Burton (Dalhousie University)
This project demonstrates how the use of soil- building rotation crops with a reduced incidence of soil tillage is associated with increased soil organic matter levels and improved soil structure. When the soil has higher organic matter, the crops are more resilient to climate change, especially during periods of low rainfall in the summer months.
The rotation crops in this BMP are ideally planted the year following a grain, pulse, or oilseed crop; and the year prior to potatoes. This will also provide growers with a better understanding on the ideal management of these crops in rotation with potatoes to maximize environmental and economical benefits.
Appropriate soil- building crops for this BMP include: Alfalfa, Sorghum Sudangrass, Forage Pearl Millet, and multi-species forage mixtures.
9 farms are participating in this trial.
Number of Soil and Water samples collected during 2020 Growing season for this project:
- 25 spring soil chemistry samples
- 25 spring soil health samples
- 25 verticillium dahliae samples
- 25 root lesion nematode samples
- 25 fall soil chemistry samples
