MAFRI Soil and Manure Management Field Clinic

On Friday, August 10, 2012 I attended the MAFRI Soil and Manure Management Field Clinic with Senior Research Chair, David Lobb. There were some 50+ attendees including a mix of students, researchers, government staff, and producers, and we were well organized by MAFRI staff and their 'Angels'. A non-kosher, non-islam, non-vegetarian lunch was provided by Manitoba Pork, which we ate in the sunshine.

We toured different stations at Glenlea Research Station just south of Winnipeg, where MAFRI staff, research students, professors and others explained the latest research findings and best practices on a range of topics that included:

• crop residue management - a comparison of burning and different chopping methods and different cultivation techniques to generate the desired amount of black soil to heat up in the spring without a loss too much carbon and organic material, but managing the weeds;
• composting - what ratios of carbon, nitrogen and water and air do you need for the perfect mix;
• a demo by USDA researchers on the use of electrical conductivity to assess nutrient availability;
• a demonstration of just how difficult it is to meet the anticipated phosphorus limit by calibrating the application rate for solid manures using horizontal and vertical spreaders;
• a brief discussion of synthetic N fertilizers and the use of enzymes to slow their release with a tour of the crop trials;
• a demo of different types of composting machinery (boys and their toys)
• a demonstration of the results of a soil inundation study showed us the difference in P-release from different soils across Manitoba
• an overview of flocculant use to separate solid manures with samples to see;
• A demonstration of in-crop manure application
• a demo of an ammonia volatilization trial using different application methodologies for urea and solid and liquid manures.

All in all a very enjoyable day outside in the Manitoba sunshine.

Selena Randall