Grainswest - Spring 2023

Spring 2023 Grains West 20 A dozen years ago, Devon Walker officially began farming alongside his dad Donald on the family farm in northwest Saskatchewan near the Alberta border. Like many young farmers, Walker was eager to put his stamp on the farm by adopting new management practices he believed would “shed risk.” After evaluating the farm’s fertility plan, he suggested they put partial fertility down at planting and then top up with a foliar application later in the season when the crop needed it most. “Applying foliar is like rubbing a sandwich on your arm when you’re hungry,” advised Donald. At the time, the young farmer had only a couple years of experience, while his father, a professional agrologist, had decades. Walker took his father’s advice seriously. Foliar fertilization wasn’t going to change the fact the soil and local climate created certain constraints. Walker’s 3,000-acre farm gets between 100 and 110 frost-free days at best. Come spring, he needs to get into the field as soon as the soil is warm enough and put fertilizer and seed down together to give the crop its best possible chance. “I’ve got limiting factors beyond fertility in my area,” said Walker. Lodging, early frost and snow are bigger hurdles, he added. “We’re worried about early frost in September. If we pump too much for fertility into our plants, they’re just way too happy, way too green when that September frost hits. And then we’re in trouble.” THERE’S A RIGHT WAY Walker isn’t alone in his curiosity about foliar fertilization. As western Canadian farmers gear up for the 2023 growing season, many will evaluate fertility plans and crunch numbers. Low supply, FEATURE BY MELANIE EPP PHOTO COURTESY OF NICOLE MURRAY PHOTOGRAPHY Liquid diet The pros and cons of foliar fertilization high prices and adverse weather have prompted some to explore the advantages and limitations of foliar applications. The application of water-soluble nutrients onto plant foliage has been touted as an effective means to alleviate fertility issues and boost yield. Splitting applications helps mitigate fertility costs, especially in regions where crop failure has been on the upswing in recent years. Its effectiveness is highly dependent on the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients through the surface of its leaves, said Rigas Karamanos, a soil scientist with more than 40 years of experience and a consultant with the research department of the AlbertaWheat and Barley Commissions. Dissolved in water, the nutrients enter the leaf surface via the cuticle or stomata. Penetration depends on environmental factors as well, he said, including temperature, humidity and light intensity.