With rising costs, more frequent droughts, and growing food demand, ensuring high crop yields has never been more essential. In order to do this, comprehensive solutions are needed, allowing you to get to the root of the issue. For most fields, this means looking beneath the surface to the soil.
Read below as we discuss our top methods for increasing crop yield and improving your bottom line. Follow along with Norstar Agriculture. We’re your local soil remediation experts, helping farmers across Alberta and Saskatchewan.
- Test Soil Before You Treat
Increasing crop yields starts at the very foundation—the soil. It’s just as important to focus on the soil your crops grow in as the crops themselves. After all, issues such as compaction and pH imbalances can only be fully identified with proper soil testing. Soil analysis reveals key information, like nutrient and physical deficiencies, that isn’t visible to the naked eye. Once you find this out, you can create a targeted treatment plan.
Expert soil agronomists, such as the Norstar Agriculture team, can conduct detailed soil testing on your fields. Many farmers only tend to conduct soil testing once every few years or whenever an issue arises. But we recommend annualsoil testing which will ultimately increase crop yield.
- Target Micronutrient Deficiencies
It’s common to look to traditional NPK fertilizers for increasing crop yields. They’re widely used for a reason: they supply crucial macronutrients for crops. Nitrogen, for example, is a key component in transporting energy for essential crop maturation.
That being said, it’s crucial to keep an eye on micronutrient availability in soil. Iron, zinc, magnesium, and many others are yield-driving micronutrients—working together to ensure the microscopic processes in plants are working correctly. Whether you’re looking to remedy your fields for the short or long term—micronutrients are essential for crop productivity. If you’re unsure which micronutrients your field will benefit most from, a professional agronomist can point you in the right direction.
- Apply Amendments at the Right Time
When you apply soil inputs is just as important as what you use. Applying amendments at the wrong time not only wastes money on inputs but also results in another season with underwhelming yields. For example, you may decide to utilize a cement kiln dust amendment to combat the pale, underdeveloped canola you’ve grown in the past. But if you wait until mid-summer to apply, your canola will have already gone through its germination and crucial growth period without it. You should instead apply the CKD amendment before the planting period begins. By doing so, fields have enough time to revitalize before the growing season.
That being said, every soil amendment has its own optimal time for application. If you’re not sure when to apply your soil input, consult a professional agronomist.
- Utilize Complementary Soil Amendments
Farmers know better than anyone how to see the big picture. From preparing field pH in the off-season to scheduled maintenance on water irrigation systems—mastering the process pays off in the long run. If you’re looking into increasing crop yields this upcoming season, it may be time to look into utilizing complementary soil amendments.
There’s no single soil input that solves all deficiencies in soil and crops. They each have their own benefits—whether it’s increasing microbial activity through nutrient availability or balancing an abundance of sodium molecules. But when used properly together, soil amendments can revitalize your farmland and increase crop yields.
Discover Crop Management Solutions
At Norstar Agriculture, we support farmers throughout the Canadian prairies to increase soil fertility and crop productivity. We utilize agronomically proven methods, conducting soil testing and creating detailed crop management plans.
Contact us today to get started improving your soil, and discover your field’s full potential.
