What test you are talking about, and for which crop? In Asia, researchers have developed an inexpensive easy to use leaf colour chart (LCC) to apply nitrogen fertilizer only when rice crop needs it. Farmers need to monitor leaf color against the color panels in the LCC and when avergae value drops below a critical value farmers need to apply N fertilizer. How much, it is specified in the chart. Rice farmers tend to misuse (over use) N fertilizer. Farmers who uses LCC reduce their N use without affecting grain yield. Such a practice reduces abundance of some insect pests and diseases too. Is LCC-lik technology availbale for major canadian crops such as wheat, corn, soybean etc.?
Bruce Burrows is appointed Executive Director of Grain Growers of Canada, bringing decades of experience to strengthen advocacy and support grain farmers across the country.
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