Continuous No-Till Organic Grain Production: Possible?

Caroline Halde, Keith Bamford, Iris Vaisman and Martin Entz

Abstract
Weed control is rated one of the top issues by Canadian organic growers (OACC, 2008). The use of chemical herbicides been restricted in organic production, organic farmers rely on mechanical practices to control weeds, such as tillage. However, frequent tillage leads to soil degradation and environmental pollution, and it requires fossil fuel energy.

Our research team has been exploring ways of reducing tillage in organic fields. The research project examines the possibilities of implementing no-tillage practices in organic production systems in the Prairies. The use of a roller-crimper has been tested at the Organic Crops Field Laboratory, in Carman, MB, since 2007.

In 2008, we initiated a long-term tillage versus no-till experiment under organic conditions at Carman, MB. The crop rotation consists of green manure (barley, hairy vetch) - flax - oat. The green manure crop is rolled in order to produce a thick mulch to suppress weeds. The green manure was rolled in late-summer 2008, and flax was directly seeded into the green manure residues in spring 2009. In 2009, flax yields in the tilled systems (2264 kg ha^-1) were significantly higher than in the no-till treatment (1983 kg ha^-1), at P = 0.0403.

Future research will examine effects of tillage systems on soil biota, mycorrhizal colonization, soil aggregate stability and crop residue decomposition. Future studies will also consider novel weed control strategies including animal grazing.


Source
Proceedings of the Joint Conference of the Canadian Society of Soil Science and the Canadian Society of Agronomy, Beyond Organics session. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. 20-24 June 2010.


Author Locations and Affiliations
Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba


Posted July 2010