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Quantifying the nitrogen benefits of cool season pulse crops to an Alberta prairie cropping system
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- Author / Creator
- Williams, Christina Marie
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Diverse crop rotations are an important part of sustainable agricultural systems. More information is needed in Alberta on the effects of adding pulse crops to current rotations. This experiment investigated the effects of ‘Snowbird’ tannin-free faba bean (Vicia faba L.), ‘Arabella’ narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.), and ‘Canstar’ field pea (Pisum sativum L.) on subsequent barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), canola (Brassica napus L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crops in rotation at two sites in central Alberta (Barrhead and St. Albert). In YR1 of rotation faba bean had the highest potential for N fixation followed by pea and lupin and N returned to the soil in above ground crop residues was similar across pulse species. In YR2 of rotation faba bean and pea stubble was able to maintain the yield and quality of subsequent barley, canola and wheat crops. Pulse crops can improve the sustainability of the Alberta cropping system.
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- Subjects / Keywords
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- Graduation date
- Fall 2011
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master of Science
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- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.