Applying humalite for enhancing wheat and canola production and soil health

Funded by:

Duration:

Khalil Ahmed PhD., P. Ag.
manager@battleriverresearch.com

Background:

Humalite is a naturally occurring Humic substance containing organic matter, high concentrations of Humic acid, and low heavy metals due to its unique freshwater depositional environment. Large deposits of this product are in the holdings of Prairie Mines and Royalty ULC (PMRU) southeast of Hanna, Alberta.

One of the main challenges is low nutrient use efficiency by crops (e.g., nitrogen) due to leaching, denitrification, and volatilization. Previous research has shown that inorganic fertilizer treated with Humic acid can significantly improve the soil nutrient availability and fertilizer use efficiency, nutrient uptake, root growth, shoot growth, nutritional quality, and yield.

Objective:

Therefore, the objectives of this project are to:
(1) Evaluate the effect of different humalite application rates on wheat and canola yield/quality;
(2) Determine ideal application rates of humiliate in wheat and canola production systems;
(3) Evaluate the effects of different humalite application rates on nitrogen use efficiency in different soil zones and plant nutrient uptake
(4) And assess the effects of humalite on soil health parameters. The goal is to identify the ideal application rate for humilite and fertilizer, quantify how these rates affect yield and yield in wheat and canola, and the short-term effects on soil health.

Methods:

Results

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