Organic Grain Production and Breeding Research in the Black Soil Zone of Alberta

Dean Spaner, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB

Wheat breeding over the last 100 years in Canada has increased wheat yields, size and number of kernels, disease resistance and quality, while reducing height and the time to maturity. Some organic farmers feel that the older varieties, developed under low input systems, may be more suitable to organic production. They are concerned about the crop's ability to compete with weeds and manage with lower fertility. They feel that selection of varieties for organic management may be best done on organically managed land.

In the historical wheat study, 32 varieties of wheat were grown at 5 sites (3 of them organic) over 2 years. In 2002, drought was severe, and all varieties grown at the organic sites out-yielded those grown at the conventional sites. In 2003, all varieties performed better on the conventional land, except Red Fife and Early Red Fife. On conventional land, newer varieties generally yielded more than older varieties. The same general trend was found on organically managed land, but not to the same extent. This suggests the need for an organic breeding program. Varieties best suited to organic production may be those that are tall, with good emergence and early vigour.

Additional studies include comparisons under simulated weed pressures. In one study, wheat cultivars with different height and tillering capacities are compared at different seeding rates, under both organic and conventional management. In another study, mixtures of wheat cultivars are compared under organic and conventional management. In a third, modern and historic cultivars are compared in mixtures with barley, triticale and oats. These studies investigate competitive ability under different management.

A number of crosses were made of tall with short lines, lines that tiller more with those that tiller less, those that yield more with those that yield less, and different types of wheat. These are being tested under organic or conventional management. The goal is to develop wheat lines adapted to organic management in the Parkland region.

Contact Info:
Dean Spaner, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science
4-10 Agriculture/Forestry Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta,
T6G 2P5 CANADA
Email: Dean.Spaner@ualberta.ca
website: http://www.afns.ualberta.ca/People/Index.asp?Page=Directory&ID=476