Emergence and Yield Comparison of Mid Row and Side Banding Seeding/Fertilizer Systems
PAMI Report #768
Date: July, 2007

The PRAIRIE AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY INSTITUTE based in Humboldt, Saskatchewan has just released Report #768, "Emergence and Yield Comparison of Mid Row and Side Banding Seeding/Fertilizer Systems". This research update is based on a major report titled "The Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer Placement, Formulation, Timing, and Rate on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Agronomic Performance", documenting the results of a major seeding research project conducted during the growing years of 2000, 2001, & 2002 in Saskatchewan.

A brief summary of the project was written in a PAMI Research Update and released in April of 2003 as Report #761. That report contained little data so PAMI prepared this more detailed Research Update using more project data with a special focus on an agronomic comparison of mid row banding and side banding systems. The result summary has been reproduced below:

RESULT SUMMARY
An extensive seeding-fertilizing system comparison project was conducted in 2000, 2001 and 2002. A mid row banding and a side banding system were compared. Plots were located at four Saskatchewan sites; Indian Head, Melfort, Swift Current, and Scott. Wheat, canola and flax were seeded with nitrogen fertilizer in the forms of both anhydrous ammonia (NH3) and urea. Fertilizer was applied at the recommended rates of 71 lb N/ac at Indian Head and Melfort sites, and 54 lb N/ac at Swift Current and Scott as well as at 50% and 150% of those recommended rates. Row spacing was 10 inches. The results may not be representative of other row spacing or seeding-fertilizing systems. For the overall project where there were 216 pairs of emergence comparisons, 42 were significantly different and 174 were not. Of the 42 that were significantly different, MRB® was significantly higher 33 times and SB was significantly higher 9 times. Significant differences in plant emergence for MRB and SB occurred more frequently when soil conditions before and after seeding were dry, and were more often in favour of MRB than for SB. For the SB system, this difference was sometimes increased by NH3 compared to urea. This higher MRB emergence would be especially important when growing conditions, such as dry soil moisture, might otherwise reduce emergence below desired emergence threshold levels. Higher emergence increases the odds of maximizing yield, and minimizing the risk of frost damage, delayed harvest and the associated reductions in crop quality. No obvious differences in crop maturity between the two systems were observed, although precise maturity dates for the respective plots were not determined and frost was not a factor in the study.

However, in this project there was no consistent trend for the significant differences observed in emergence to convert into significant differences in yield. For the overall project, where there were 216 pairs of yield comparisons, 30 were significantly different and 186 were not. Of the 30 that were significantly different, MRB was significantly higher 15 times and SB was significantly higher 15 times. The table below provides a summary by crop type and N form. The fact that differences in emergence did not generally convert into differences in yield likely relates to the absolute levels of emergence obtained and, potentially, the weather conditions that prevailed during the growing season. When the minimum threshold emergence level was achieved on both seeding-fertilizing systems, then no significant yield difference typically occurred despite observed plant emergence differences. At Indian Head in 2001, when canola emergence on SB fell below the minimum threshold but MRB did not, large yield differences occurred with NH3 and urea. In the remainder of cases, other factors that contribute to plant growth and development combined to produce very similar yields.

Depending on their risk-management strategy, farmers can assess the general trends or refer to very specific data from this project to determine the appropriate seeding and fertilizing equipment and practices to use to best suit their farming operation.
(note: text bolded by Bourgault)

A copy of report # 768 can be obtained from the PAMI web site (click here). You can also download a PDF copy of the report by clicking here.