Download - Perennial Crop Development - umanitoba.ca
Possible to underseed to wheat in year 2 to avoid a lost year of revenue
Introduction:
Perennial crop development is seen as a positive step in
sustaining field crop production in Western Canada.
Degradation of soils via tillage, the loss of organic matter
(OM), and the reliance on high levels of inputs (fertilizer
and pesticides) is leading many to look to perennial crops
as part of the solution.
We grow many perennial crops for feed and some for seed
production for forage plantings and export, however little,
if any, is being grown as a food or feed grain in western
Canada.
Benefits of growing perennials in crop rotations is well
researched, however the utilization of forages has dropped
off in North America, due first to mechanization and more
recently with the downsizing of livestock production.
Economic analysis has indicated that there are specific
situations where inclusion of perennial crops harvested for
feed in a farming system can add to the profitability of a
farm exclusive of environmental benefits.
Potential Species:
o Species that are often included in discussions regarding
perennial crops include:
o Grains: perennial wheat, rice, sorghum, intermediate
wheatgrass
o Oilseeds: Perennial sunflower, flax.
o Legumes: Illinois bundleflower, alfalfa
o Other potential species for Manitoba include perennial
cereal rye (grain), prairie dropseed (grain), prairie turnip
(legume, vegetable), prairie onion (vegetable) and other
native legumes for N2 fixation.
o Potential for the individual species may be impacted by
their demand and their adaptation to polyculture.
Benefits:
It is envisioned that the use of perennial crop species will aid in
the remediation of the soil.
Perennial species once established will reduce risk of spring
weather on establishment and are better able to utilize available
resources throughout the entire growing season.
Year-long presence and growth will help reduce the potential for
negative environmental impacts such as soil erosion.
Another envisioned advantage will be a reduction of fuel
expenditures as field preparation and seeding will not be carried
out annually.
The lack of surface disturbance and incorporation of organic
matter will increase soil OM by reducing degradation and
increasing deposition.
Year 3 perennial establish
Year 7 perennial harvest
Year 6 perennial harvest
Year 5 perennial harvest
Year 4 perennial harvest
Example of a possible fit for perennials grains in rotation
Year 1 canola
Year 2 wheat
Remove perennial and go back into annuals
Perennial Crop Development
D.J. Cattani, Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, R3T 2N2, [email protected]
C4 Grain Legume Oilseed C3 Grain
Breeding Strategies:
Breeding system will in part be determined by the individual
species mode of pollination, including: self-pollination, cross-
pollination, apomixis, ability to self cross-pollinated species.
Selection strategies with respect to the desired genetic
uniformity of the crop species requires that it be determined prior
to breeding system development.
Cultivars may be developed..
Ecovars ™ have been suggested with some selection taking
place on important traits and genetic diversity being maintained
and this may be of benefit in this system.
If a polyculture system: attempt to utilize the entire growing
season via selecting for either maturity synchrony within the
composite crop species and differential growth times of
companion species (e.g. legume for N2 fixation).
Cultivar or germplasm adaptation can have a significant impact
on yield potential, especially after the first seed harvest so
selection for sustained yields.
Possible polyculture system with synchronized maturity, one
harvest per year and crop separation at seed plant.
Year 1 establish
polyculture
Polyculture of perennial crops
Year 2 perennial grains
harvest
Year 3 perennial grains
harvest
Year 4 perennial grains
harvest
Year 5 perennial grains
harvest
Year 6 perennial grains
harvest
Year 7 harvest all crop
species
Crops are removed and producer may replant
polyculture or enter into annual cropping portion of
above example
Prairie turnip (legume) Perennial flax: Wild Blue Flax
(right) Perennial sunflower:
small seed
(left) Perennial cereal rye:
ergot
Challenges
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