In addition to targeted or varied fertilizer application, GPS technology can be used in a variety of ways by farms to improve the accuracy of input application and maximize yields. Global positioning system equipment is most used as a tracking or guidance system (such as auto-steer) However, 16% of these farms tested their soil every year, up 1% from 2017. For forage crop (hay, silage and pasture) farms that applied fertilizer, 66% tested their soil and varied their fertilizer application rate, down 1% from 2017. Among these farms, 42% tested their soil every year.
This represents a 4% increase compared with 2017. In 2021, 94% of field crop (oilseed, grain and pulse) farms that applied fertilizer tested their soil for nutrient content and varied their fertilizer application rate. Together, annual soil testing and varied fertilizer application can improve nitrogen use efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Soil testing measures key elements in the soil (e.g., phosphorus, potassium and calcium) to assess their availability to plants and identify specific nutrient needs to be addressed by applying fertilizers. The best way to identify nutrient needs is to test the soil. Variable-rate input application is a technology that relies on farm equipment with global positioning system ( GPS) to regulate seeding or crop input application (fertilizer, pesticides, manure, etc.) across a field depending on specific plant needs.
Soil testing and targeted or varied fertilizer application on farms: A winning combination
The latest release of the Farm Management Survey focuses on whether Canadian farms are progressively adopting more sustainable practices.
The subjects covered are varied but can generally be linked to the environmental impact of the Canadian agriculture sector. The Farm Management Survey is conducted every five years as a follow-up to the Census of Agriculture. Environmental practices on Canadian farms
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