Grainswest - Tech 2026

Tech 2026 Grains West 14 THE FARMGATE MORE THAN EVER, FARMERS AND researchers recognize the benefits of good soil health. For example, healthy soil is better able to absorb water, which reduces evaporation so plants can better withstand drought and other adverse conditions. Supportive soil conditions also help crops better withstand pests and diseases. Through tools such as the Alberta Soil Health Benchmark and research pro- jects such as a recent soil microbe study, researchers are learning more about cur- rent soil conditions and how to maximize soil health. A BETTER BENCHMARK The Alberta Soil Health Benchmark project was initiated in 2019 by Chinook Applied Research Association (CARA) to establish baseline soil health conditions across Alberta under real agricultural management. At the time, there was lim- ited co-ordinated provincial information that integrated biological, physical and chemical soil health indicators across re- gions, soil types and production systems. To build this foundation, Benchmark project staff collected soil samples across Alberta. Funded by RDAR, this work was later expanded through the Soil Health Verification project. “One of the major strengths of the project was the level of collaboration involved,” said Yamily Zavala, soil and health crop management specialist at the CARA Soil Health Lab. The two projects followed an identical protocol to create one provincewide dataset, the first of its kind, that spans 2019 to 2025. “Other countries have also created something similar but given the wide vari- ety of soil conditions in Alberta, I felt the province needed its own benchmark data,” said Zavala. “We also wanted to forge a stronger understanding of soil biological, physical and chemical interactions.” The initiative employed standardized sampling protocols. Soil samples col- lected from farms were analyzed by the CARA Soil Health Lab. Eleven of the province’s 12 Applied Research and For- age associations also participated in the project. R. A. West International donated use of laboratory facilities. The Universi- ty of Alberta conducted soil carbon and nitrogen analyses, while A&L Canada Laboratories measured additional soil health indicators. The project was supported by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Collaboration and in-kind support were provided by the various associa- tions. Collaboration, technical support and funding were also supplied by the University of Alberta and A&L Canada Laboratories. As well, many participating farmers financially supported the CARA Soil Health Lab. “One of the important long-term goals of this work is the development of Alberta-specific soil health and scoring systems based on provincial data,” said Zavala. “This will be more effective than relying entirely on datasets generated from other regions or environments.” The project also promises long-term moni- toring potential and guidance for future research and funding priorities based on local soil conditions. “The value of the database extends beyond the initial projects,” said Zava- la. “Future soil health assessments can be compared directly with the existing dataset. This provides a foundation for ongoing monitoring of soil health trends over time and allows collection of new samples using the same methods that will be incorporated into the database.” Buildwealthwithsoilhealth Research and resources contribute to better agronomics As part of a study of soil microbial communities, Derrick Kanashiro, an AAFC soil health research technician, collects a soil sample at the Lethbridge Research and Development Centre.