Crop Rotations and Changes in Saskatchewan Fertilizer Use: 1991-94 and 2016-19

Over the past 30 years, Saskatchewan, which holds over 40% of Canada’s cropland, has seen a shift in dryland crop production. Previously, fields were often left fallow with tillage as the primary weed control. The 1995 introduction of herbicide-tolerant canola transformed this, leading to continuous crop rotations and increased nitrogen-fixing pulse crops. This research, based on a 2020–2021 online survey, aimed to assess the impact of these changes on fertilizer use. Findings showed that while pulses positively impacted crop rotations, their effect on nitrogen fertilizer requirements varied. Additionally, GMHT canola required fewer fertilizers compared to the conventional canola in the 1991–1994 period. These changes highlight improved fertilizer efficiency, suggesting that expanding the pulse crop industry could further enhance prairie agriculture’s environmental sustainability.