Nitrogen carryover during drought conditions

Oct 08, 2024

Some parts of the province received less than average rain and saw lower yields than anticipated. A smaller crop utilized less of the applied and soil available nitrogen (N). This brings the question of:

• How much N is unused?

• How much N gets carried over to the next year?

The answer to the first question is straightforward. Use the Prairie Nutrient Removal Calculator to determine how much nutrients your crop removed this year. The difference between crop removal and available N is the amount that was not used by the crop.

The answer to the second question is more complicated. Carryover N depends on the amount of crop removal, the amount of mineralization in the soil and N loss between harvest and next spring. In drought conditions, a smaller crop removes less N. However, drought also reduces soil microbial activities, which causes less N to be released from the soil. The third factor, N loss from harvest to the next spring, can occur through volatilization, leaching, denitrification and run-off.

Soil sampling is the most accurate way to figure out the exact amount of N carryover. Areas receiving <60 per cent average rain and/or significantly less vegetative growth have an increased chance of N carryover. Growers in these areas should pay closer attention to potential N carryover. It is highly recommended to take soil samples in the fall just before freeze-up and follow the tips in this video.

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.