Unlocking the secrets of phosphorus in soil management

Oct 18, 2023

Just like humans, plants need nutrients to survive and grow, and many of these nutrients are important compounds found in soil. A University of Saskatchewan (USask) researcher is exploring how phosphorus, an important nutrient for humans and plants, reacts with mineral compounds and how these reactions can impact how well phosphorus is used in soil.

Although phosphorus is required for the growth of plants, USask master’s student Catherine Chavez said it is important to use it efficiently in soil because there is only a finite amount to go around.

“Phosphorus is a required nutrient for all living organisms, and its availability is controlled by adsorption processes,” said Chavez.

Adsorption describes a process where particles of one substance adhere to the surface of another. Her research project is exploring how a wide range of phosphorus compounds react with iron oxide minerals.

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Video: Why Invest in Canada’s Seed Future? | On The Brink: Episode 3

Darcy Unger just invested millions to build a brand-new seed plant on his farm in Stonewall, Manitoba so when it’s time for his sons to take over, they have the tools they need to succeed.

Right now, 95% of the genetics they’ll be growing come from Canadian plant breeders.

That number matters.

When fusarium hit Western Canada in the late 90s, it was Canadian breeders who responded, because they understood Canadian conditions. That ability to react quickly to what’s happening on Canadian farms is exactly what’s at risk when breeding programs lose funding.

For farmers like Darcy, who have made generational investments based on the assumption that better genetics will keep coming, the stakes are direct and personal.

We’re on the brink of decisions that will shape our agricultural future for not only our generation, but also the ones to come.

What direction will we choose?

On The Brink is a year-long video series traveling across Canada to meet the researchers, breeders, farmers, seed companies, and policymakers shaping the future of Canadian plant breeding. Each week, a new story. Each story, a piece of the bigger picture.

Episode 3 is above. Follow Seed World Canada to catch every episode, and tell us: Do you think the next generation will have the tools they need to success when they takeover? How is the future going to look?