SARDA Ag Research News
SARDA Ag Research Intercropping Pulses Update • Define the best nutrient applications for crop mixtures. • Is intercropping a feasible practice on local farms?
By Megan Snell, ATT, Dipl.Ag.
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ARDA Ag Research began an intercropping trial in 2020, to conclude in 2022. The trial plots, designed by Dr. Kabal Gill, are in the Smoky River region. Numerous questions inspired this trial. For many producers, growing pulse crops aren’t very appealing due to their high lodging potential. Most pulse crops are susceptible to diseases, and lodging often promotes the development of diseases. This trial’s hypothesis is: would a pulse crop be able to release enough nitrogen to sustain the cereal or oilseed crop for the growing season? SARDA Ag Research also wanted to explore the following: • Define the mixture of crops that would be successful. • Define the best seeding rates. • Define if, when and what herbicides should be sprayed.
We selected two intercropping categories. The first combines pulses and cereals. Within the pulse category, we tested field peas and lentils. For the cereals, we tried wheat and barley. The second combines pulses and oilseeds. We used field peas and lentils once more, and for the oilseeds, we used canola and flax. The seeding rates were set as: • Two rates for each of the wheat and barley: 25% and 50% of their recommended seeding rate. • Two rates for each of the canola and flax: 50% and 75% of their recommended seeding rate. • One rate for each of the peas and lentils: 100% of the recommended seeding rate. 7
