Canadian Prairies Research Articles

Women’s Garden Work, Agricultural Rehabilitation, and Gendered Knowledge from Below on the Canadian Prairies, 1930–46

This article considers the gardening work of prairie women in the context of farming difficulties and agricultural rehabilitation on the Canadian Prairies in the 1930s and 1940s. It is based on analysis of gardening coverage in the Western Producer (a prairie periodical aimed at English-speaking farm families) and engagement with the records of federal government officials involved in the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration and the Experimental Farms Service. The article establishes the significance of women’s gardening work and its important role in agricultural rehabilitation. In doing so, the article makes clear the ambition underlying agricultural rehabilitation, a federal government project intended to help protect permanent homes for settler families on the Canadian Prairies. Contributing to the understudied topics of rural experiences in women’s history and of women’s experiences in environmental history and the history of knowledge, the article illustrates the importance of considering gendered knowledge from below in grappling with the consolidation of agricultural colonization on the Canadian Prairies.

Effect of curing methods on Botrytis neck rot disease of onions in the Canadian prairies

Effect of curing methods on <i>Botrytis</i> neck rot disease of onions in the Canadian prairies

Authorized Heritage: Place, Memory, and Historic Sites in Prairie Canada. Robert Coutts

<i>Authorized Heritage: Place, Memory, and Historic Sites in Prairie Canada</i>. Robert Coutts

Regional Variability in Survival for Patients Diagnosed with Selected Central Nervous System Tumours in Canada.

Canada's decentralized healthcare system may lead to regional disparities in survival among Canadians diagnosed with central nervous system (CNS) tumours. We identified 50,670 patients diagnosed with a first-ever primary CNS tumour between 2008 and 2017 with follow-up until 31 December 2017. We selected the four highest incidence histologies and used proportional hazard regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for five regions (British Columbia, Prairie Provinces, Ontario, Atlantic Provinces and the Territories), adjusting for sex, tumour behaviour and patient age. Ontario had the best survival profile for all histologies investigated. The Atlantic Provinces had the highest HR for glioblastoma (HR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.18-1.35) and malignant glioma not otherwise specified (NOS) (Overall: HR = 1.87, 95% CI:1.43-2.43; Pediatric population: HR = 2.86, 95% CI: 1.28-6.39). For meningioma, the Territories had the highest HR (HR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.09-5.45) followed by the Prairie Provinces (HR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.38-1.67). For malignant unclassified tumours, the highest HRs were in British Columbia (HR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.22-1.71) and the Atlantic Provinces (HR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.13-1.74). There are regional differences in the survival of CNS patients at the population level for all four specific histological types of CNS tumours investigated. Factors contributing to these observed regional survival differences are unknown and warrant further investigation.

From drought hazard to risk: A spring wheat vulnerability assessment in the Canadian Prairies

The Canadian drought monitor (CDM) provides monthly assessments of drought severity but does not provide guidance on the potential agricultural impacts. This study extends the CDM to a comprehensive risk assessment framework by assessing the vulnerability of spring wheat to drought timing and severity in the Canadian Prairies. To achieve this, a bayesian neural network (BNN) model was developed that predicts high-resolution wheat yields and uncertainties using the CDM and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data from 2010 to 2021. Model performance is comparable to previous studies, with errors ranging from 13% to 18% of mean yields and R2 values from 0.43 to 0.70 that peak in early August. The model was then applied under various drought conditions to evaluate how different drought timings and severities affect yield vulnerability. The results demonstrate that drought exposure from June to August reduces wheat yields in proportion to drought severity while abnormally dry conditions may have a positive impact of yield, particularly in August. Yield uncertainty decreases substantially from June to July while yield prediction accuracy increases, suggesting that mitigation efforts are most effective prior to July. The final component of the research involved creating operational risk maps that integrate the yield vulnerability assessment with the CDM. These maps were applied in a case study to demonstrate their utility in providing actionable, real-time information for agricultural stakeholders. Overall, this study contributes to the body of knowledge regarding crop sensitivities to varying drought conditions and represents a methodological advancement by enabling high-resolution, operational agricultural risk assessments at scale. By integrating detailed vulnerability data with drought hazard monitoring from the CDM, the information provided by these risk maps can be leveraged by agricultural stakeholders in near real-time to make well-informed decisions that mitigate the impacts of drought on wheat production, enhancing the resilience of agricultural systems to climatic variability.

Determining adaptability of farmer bred spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes to Canadian organic production using stability analysis

AbstractParticipatory plant breeding (PPB) is a collaborative process between farmers, plant breeders and researchers to create germplasm specifically bred for target environments. We sought to examine the yield performance and adaptability of genotypes from an organic PPB wheat programme under organic management across the Canadian prairies. We evaluated 25 farmer genotypes and 6 commercial cultivars in locations in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, totalling 12 organic environments. The top performers most responsive to higher yield environments were three farmer genotypes (BL34‐SW, BL43C‐TM and BJ13‐GW) and one check cultivar (Vesper). Genotype plus genotype by environment (GGE) biplot analysis indicated that one farmer genotype (BL23‐AS) and one check cultivar (Vesper) demonstrated high yield and greater organic adaptation than other genotypes tested. Two registered cultivars (AAC Brandon and Jake) had low yield and poor adaptation, as did one farmer genotype (PWA10B‐LD). Yield was positively and strongly correlated with height, anthesis and mature biomass and kernel number per unit area. The results provide evidence that early generation farmer selection is an effective breeding strategy for discovering wheat genotypes with high yield and excellent adaptability to organic production systems in Canada.

Quantitative evaluation of soil health based on a minimum dataset under various short-term crop rotations on the Canadian prairies

Maintaining and improving soil health (SH) is essential for the long-term sustainability and productivity of agriculture, notably in the face of climate change. This study addressed the challenge of selecting appropriate soil indicators, scoring methods, and indexing approaches for SH evaluation under no-till crop rotations. This study aimed to develop minimum datasets (MDS) and assess SH in six crop rotations (denoted as conventional, diversified, high-risk and high-reward, market-driven, pulse-oilseed intensified, and soil health-enhanced rotations) at three sites on the Canadian prairies. Fourteen soil indicators in the total dataset (TDS) were examined, encompassing both chemical (0–7.5 cm depth) and physical (5–10 cm depth) properties. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified MDSs from the TDS. Two scoring [linear (L) and non-linear (NL)] and two SH indexing approaches [additive (A) and weighted additive (WA)] were used to calculate the SH index (SHI). One-way ANOVA evaluated the SHI among crop rotations. The PCA revealed variations in the number of indicators in the MDS across sites, with soil organic carbon, bulk density, macroporosity, and plant-available water capacity as the common indicators for MDS across sites. Other indicators such as particulate organic matter carbon, aggregate stability, field capacity, and microporosity were found to be important, depending on the site. The non-linear weighted additive SH indexing (SHI.NLWA) proved to be the most sensitive and effective for differentiating among crop rotations in the short-term across study sites (R2 = 0.89–0.94, P < 0.05). Crop rotations significantly influenced SHI, with the diversified and high-risk and high-reward rotations having the highest SHI at Lethbridge and Scott, respectively. Overall, the diversified rotation at Lethbridge and Swift Current, along with the high-risk and high-reward rotation at Scott, exhibited better soil function than other rotations. Monitoring SHI over time and selecting crop rotations that improve SH can collectively enhance soil functions and agroecosystem productivity.

Experiments with a Dark Pedagogy: Learning from/through Temporality, Climate Change and Species Extinction (…and Ghosts)

Abstract In this article, we experiment with a form of dark pedagogy, a pedagogy that confronts haunting pasts∼presents∼futures in environmental education. We offer a conceptualisation of ghosts that enables us to creatively explore the duration of things and consider the relationality of time. We examine this through two situated contexts, engaging with entangled, yet differentiated, socioecological issues. The first issue involves the cascading impacts of climate change on the Australian Alps, including intensifying bushfires and threats to the iconic snow gum. The second issue involves the reordering of human/animal relations through processes of settler colonialism that continue to transform land into a commodity, with a significant cultural and material consequence of such colonial harm resulting in the extermination of free-ranging bison herds in the Canadian prairies. Both are unique issues, but both involve impacts of colonisation, loss and natural-cultural hegemony. The dark elements of these Place-specific stories involve noticing and confronting loss and related injustices. In our case, we diffract such confrontations by thinking through these challenging issues and working towards ethical ways of living and learning. In this article, we (re)member ghosts and ponder practices for fostering anticolonial response-abilities and affirmative human/Earth futures.

Effects of reduced pesticide use on winter wheat production in the Canadian Prairies

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a highly competitive crop with the potential to enhance on-farm revenue and reduce reliance on crop protection inputs. The adoption of winter wheat in the Canadian Prairies has varied significantly over recent decades; however, improved weed and disease management practices could facilitate stability of hectares cultivated. To assess current and alternative pesticide management practices, we conducted a study across 15 site-years at four locations over four years (2018-2022). Experimental treatments included pre-plant weed management (glyphosate vs. glyphosate mixed with pyroxasulfone+carfentrazone-ethyl), in-crop weed management (no in-crop herbicide vs. fall-applied 2,4-D vs. fall-applied 2,4-D+spring-applied site-year-specific herbicides) and in-crop fungicide management (no in-crop fungicide vs. one prothioconazole+tebuconazole application at ZGS60 vs. two prothioconazole+tebuconazole applications at ZGS32 and ZGS60). Pre-plant glyphosate alone and glyphosate tank-mixed with pyroxasulfone+carfentrazone-ethyl exhibited comparable effects on grain yield, quality parameters, and agronomic characteristics. In-crop weed management had no significant influence on these factors compared to the no in-crop herbicide control, suggesting that in-crop herbicide applications are unnecessary due to the high competitiveness of winter wheat against weeds. However, disease mitigation was prudent as single and double application of fungicide increased grain yield while maintaining grain protein concentration levels. A high-yielding, stable system for optimal grain yield typically required pre-plant weed management coupled with two fungicide applications. These observations confirm herbicide inputs can be reduced in a winter wheat cropping system but disease pressure requires careful cultivar selection with an emphasis on disease resistance as multiple applications of fungicides were needed to optimize grain yield.

The impact of herbicide-resistant canola systems on the weed community dynamics in the Canadian Prairies

Increased adoption of no-till and extensive cultivation of herbicide-resistant (HR) crops in low diversity rotations are some transformations that occurred during the 1970s–2000s in western Canada. Historical data analysis of weed survey data (Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta) in canola crops and a canola rotation field experiment were used to understand how tillage, herbicide-resistant cropping systems, and the temporal frequency of canola in the rotation can impact weed abundance, composition, and diversity in the Canadian prairies. Weed survey data revealed that the spatial frequency of many weed species declined in years after 1995 compared with before 1995, the year HR cultivars were introduced. False cleavers ( Galeum spurium L .) and volunteer wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) were the only species showing a continuous increase in frequency throughout the surveyed years. Species richness showed no trajectories but varied depending on climatic conditions. Roundup-Ready (RR) systems were associated with green foxtail ( Setaria viridis L.) irrespective of their frequency in the rotation. Continuous canola systems had an obvious association with chickweed ( Stellaria media L.) regardless of herbicide systems. Wild oats ( Avena fatua L.) were predominant in the longer rotations with glufosinate and imidazolinone-resistant canola. In the field study, weeds associated before in crop herbicide application were relatively controlled after herbicides were applied, except for foxtail barley ( Hordeum Jubatum L.), which was not controlled in most HR systems. Overall, both weed survey data and field experiment data revealed greater control of most weed species due to the adoption of HR canola cultivars and the associated cultural practices.

Hirundo rustica (Barn Swallows) and Tachycineta bicolor (Tree Swallows) select wetlands in agriculturally intensive landscapes, as revealed by GPS tracking

Abstract Aerial insectivorous birds breeding in North America have experienced decades of population declines for reasons hypothesized to be related to changes in their insect prey. In agricultural landscapes, land management practices can affect insect communities, leading to concerns that ongoing trends toward more intensive cultivation could affect the ability of farmland-breeding aerial insectivores to forage and provision their offspring with aerial insect prey. To understand how differences in agricultural intensity may affect the foraging behavior of different aerial insectivore species, we used GPS tags to compare the movements and habitat use of 2 species with different foraging ecologies, Hirundo rustica (Barn Swallow) and Tachycineta bicolor (Tree Swallow), breeding at 17 sites in agricultural landscapes in Saskatchewan, Canada. Although we identified differences in foraging behavior consistent with each species’ reported ecological traits, including T. bicolor foraging farther and over larger areas than H. rustica, overall foraging behavior was similar between species. Resource selection function analyses indicated that both species used wetlands disproportionately often relative to local wetland availability, especially when detected farther from their nests. Hirundo rustica and T. bicolor both also avoided cropped foraging habitat, using it proportionally less than it was locally available. In landscapes with greater wetland cover, both species selected for wetland habitat more strongly, and among T. bicolor, higher wetland density decreased maximum foraging distance and home range area. In contrast, we found no effect of crop cover on foraging habitat selection or foraging movements. These findings suggest that H. rustica and T. bicolor breeding in Saskatchewan agroecosystems share similar foraging strategies, with wetland habitats appearing to be highly important despite comprising only a small proportion of landscape area. Overall, these results indicate that protecting wetland habitats should be a priority for aerial insectivore conservation in the intensive agricultural landscapes such as the Canadian prairies.

Volatile Organic Compounds Mediate Host Selection of Wheat Midge, Sitodiplosis Mosellana (Géhin) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) between Preanthesis and Postanthesis Stages of Wheat.

The orange wheat blossom midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), is a significant wheat pest in the Prairie Provinces of Canada and northern regions of the USA. Wheat phenology plays a critical role in wheat midge oviposition. We hypothesized that S. mosellana oviposition behaviour is influenced by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by wheat at two adjacent wheat growth stages: preanthesis and postanthesis. A higher number of S. mosellana eggs laid on preanthesis than postanthesis spikes in an oviposition choice experiment using the susceptible spring wheat cultivar 'Roblin'. In preanthesis, wheat emitted higher amounts of Z-3-hexenyl acetate (Z3-06:OAc) than at the postanthesis stage. Higher amounts of methyl ketones such as 2-tridecanone, 2-pentadecanone, and 2-undecanone were emitted by wheat in the postanthesis stage and these VOCs were sensitive to S. mosellana antennae used in the Gas Chromatography-Electroantennographic Detection. Females were attracted to synthetic Z3-06:OAc but were deterred by 2-tridecanone relative to the solvent control in the vertical Y-tube olfactometer. 2-Undecanone and 2-pentadecanone did not show any attractiveness or deterrence. In a no-choice oviposition experiment, fewer eggs were laid in preanthesis wheat exposed to a synthetic VOC blend of Z3-06:OAc, 2-undecanone, 2-tridecanone, and 2-pentadecanone at the concentrations released by postanthesis spikes. This study shows that the reduction of Z3-06:OAc, in the VOC mix, and possibly the increase in 2-tridecanone, are likely responsible for the reduction in oviposition on postanthesis wheat. These results elucidate for the first time the role of specific VOCs mediating S. mosellana oviposition in preanthesis and postanthesis wheat.

C17-833 camelina

Camelina ( Camelina sativa) elite germplasm C17-833 was developed at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Saskatoon Research and Development Centre. It was developed through hybridization of camelina cultivar AAC 10CS0048 and F4 line 11CS0231-24-10 and subsequent pedigree selection. C17-833 yields significantly higher (114%) than the check cultivar AAC 10CS0048. It also has significantly higher seed oil content (42.6% vs. 41.9%) and significantly larger seeds (126%). C17-833 has very good resistance to downy mildew disease caused by Hyalonospora camelinae and is adapted to all soil zones of the Canadian Prairies.

PSI-11 Determination of standardized total tract phosphorus digestibility in expeller-pressed Canadian prairie grown soybean meal fed to growing pigs

Abstract The objectives of this study were 1) to determine the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of calcium (Ca) and phosphorous (P) and standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of P in soybean expeller (SBE), and 2) to examine the effects of microbial phytase supplementation on ATTD and STTD of P in SBE. A total of 48 growing barrows (body weight = 15.5 ± 0.7 kg, mean ± SD) were assigned to 1 of 8 dietary treatments (4 with 500 phytase units/kg and 4 without phytase) in a completely randomized design to give 6 replicates per treatment. SBE was the only source of P in diets. Four SBEs were used in the experiment, with three derived from soybeans grown in Manitoba (MB1, MB2, and MB3) whereas the fourth was derived from soybeans grown in Ontario. The experiment was conducted over 3 consecutive 12-d periods; within each period the initial 7 d were for adaptation followed by 5 d for total fecal collection (marker to marker procedure). Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Fixed effects were the type of SBE and phytase whereas period was included as a random effect in the model. Dry matter (DM), Ca and P content was analyzed in diets and feces. The ATTD and STTD of P were not affected by the source of SBE and averaged 63.0% and 69.9%, respectively. Phytase supplementation significantly increased (P &amp;lt; 0.001) P digestibility in all SBE types. The ATTD and STTD values of P with phytase supplementation averaged 72.8% and 79.7%, respectively. There was no interaction effect between type of SBE and phytase supplementation. The ATTD of Ca (P &amp;lt; 0.001) in MB2 was significantly less (55.7%) than in the other SBEs whose values averaged71.6%. Ca digestibility was not affected by phytase inclusion. In conclusion, the ATTD and STTD of P were not different among the SBE types. Phytase supplementation increases the P digestibility in SBE irrespective of source.

Early adopter insights on physical impact mill technology for harvest weed seed control in Canada

The evolution and spread of herbicide resistance among the weed community has increased interest in alternative weed management strategies such as harvest weed seed control. Western Canadian producers have begun adopting physical impact mills as an additional weed management strategy. A survey of early adopters of physical impact mill technology in Canada was conducted to better understand the motivations behind producers adopting, initial experiences, and research needs. Ten producers responded to the survey, accounting for 18 out of an estimated 30 impact mills in use in Canada, believed to be located primarily in the Canadian Prairies. These producers were mainly from larger farms (&gt;4000 ha), equipped the majority of their combines (75% average) and used the mills in essentially all crops grown. The majority of respondents were located in Saskatchewan, with two mills being used in Alberta. Wild oat ( Avena fatua L.) (60%) and kochia ( Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott) (50%) were the weeds most frequently mentioned as specific motivators of impact mill adoption. Average increased fuel cost from the mill was estimated at CAD$3.46 ha−1, with average annual maintenance costs of about $1500 per impact mill. Producers relied on information from mill companies and other early-adopting farmers primarily, followed by extension talks and social media. Research needs were also identified by producers that could inform the future direction of harvest weed seed control research in Canada. Future research should focus on confirming efficacy, optimizing combine settings, and looking at integrated systems with precision agriculture technologies.

Crop cover and nutrient levels mediate the effects of land management type on aquatic invertebrate richness in prairie potholes.

Aquatic invertebrates provide important ecosystem services, including decomposition and nutrient cycling, and provide nutrition for birds, fish, amphibians, and bats. Thus, the effects of agricultural land management practices on aquatic invertebrates are relevant to farmers, wildlife biologists, and policymakers. Here, we used data on aquatic invertebrates (159 taxa, 73 to species, 75 to genus/family) collected in 40 wetlands in the Canadian prairies to test for direct and indirect relationships among land management types (perennial cover, organic, minimum tillage, conventional), landscape structure (cropland and wetland cover within the surrounding landscape), and water quality (total nutrient levels, turbidity) on species richness of invertebrates using structural equation modelling. Additionally, we assessed variation in community composition within and among wetlands in different land use management types using a direct gradient analysis and variance partitioning. The direct effects of land management type were not supported but we found strong supportive evidence that effects of land management on richness were significantly mediated through cropland cover, nutrient levels, and turbidity. After controlling for these indirect effects, aquatic invertebrate richness decreased along a gradient from the lowest to the highest farming intensity, i.e., richness decreased from perennial cover sites to organic to minimum tillage to conventional sites. Support was also found for negative effects of nutrient levels and turbidity on richness. We did not find significant support for differences in gamma diversity or a simple test (homogeneity of multivariate dispersions) of differences in turnover among land management types; however, land management had a significant effect in distance-based redundancy analysis. Taken together, these results suggest that focusing conservation efforts on reducing cropland erosion and nutrient inputs to wetlands and creating more permanent cover may be effective strategies for conserving richness of aquatic invertebrates in agricultural landscapes in this region.

Contrasting late season pest insect abundance in non‐crop vegetation areas and nearby canola fields in the Canadian Prairies

Abstract Non‐crop vegetation areas in agricultural landscapes are vital for maintaining biodiversity. However, they potentially host pest insects, which can cause economic loss in crop fields. Some insect species have been found to spill into crops from these areas, but this varies depending on species, landscape composition and the time of the season. To determine if five common pest insects of canola crops were spilling into fields during the late growing season, we collected samples at various distances from non‐crop areas, in a part of the Canadian Prairies (Alberta, Canada) where this crop is widely grown. Sampling occurred at 15 sites in each of 10 fields (N = 150 sites). We modelled changes in pest abundance over distance from the non‐crop areas and contrasted the abundance of each taxon in the crop and non‐crop areas. Only leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) demonstrated a declining gradient in abundance that is consistent with spillover from non‐crop vegetation areas into the canola fields. Weevils were found to have significantly higher abundance in the non‐crop areas, indicating a relationship between this taxon and the non‐crop area in the late season, but there was no decline in abundance, which might indicate spillover occurring. All taxa demonstrated spatial differences in abundance among fields. This study found limited evidence that the pests are spilling over from non‐crop vegetation into canola crops during the late season. Therefore, movement of pests from non‐crop vegetation areas at this time is unlikely to be a driver of pest pressure for this economically important crop.

ERA5‐Based Significant Tornado Environments in Canada Between 1980 and 2020

AbstractThis study uses ERA5 close‐proximity soundings and associated convective parameters to characterize significant tornadic storm (F/EF2+) environments between 1980 and 2020 in parts of Canada. It is shown that ERA5 convective parameters are suitable to represent observed parameters, based on radiosonde comparisons. Results indicate that the eastern Canadian Prairies have nearly double the lifted condensation level with higher level of free convection compared to eastern Canada (southern Ontario/Quebec). Eastern Canada has more a humid boundary layer and free troposphere that can lead to warmer cold pools, favoring tornadogenesis. Central Canada (Manitoba) has the largest mixed‐layer (ML) convective available potential energy (CAPE) mainly due to a combination of regional differences in low level moisture and steeper mid‐level lapse rates in western Canada. Central continental U.S. and Canadian regions appear to have the highest (most negative) convective inhibition, leading to more explosive initiation. Mean bulk wind shear and storm relative helicity (SRH) increases from west to east, with eastern regions being significantly larger. The supercell composite and significant tornado parameters are generally less than U.S. magnitudes, particularly in western Canada, and would require recalibration for more practical use in Canada. Overall, western Canada significant tornadic storms are associated with more low‐level looping hodographs and dominated by thermodynamic influences compared to larger wind influences in eastern regions. This is likely due to more spring, late summer, and autumn events that typically have well‐developed synoptic systems (stronger wind shear) with overall less buoyant energy in eastern regions.

The evaluation of secondary seed dormancy potentials of spring Brassica napus L. genotypes and the relationship with seed germination, vigor, and seed quality traits

AbstractVolunteer canola (Brassica napus L.) is defined as canola germinating and emerging after the intended cropping season, and it continually ranks as a top occurring weed on the Canadian prairies. Seed dormancy is the physiological mechanism enabling the seed to remain viable in the soil seedbank for extended periods of time. Specifically, canola has a high likelihood of being induced into secondary seed dormancy under adverse environmental conditions not suitable for germination. A reduction of secondary seed dormancy in modern canola varieties may result in lower seedbank persistence; however, the effect of reducing dormancy on other seed traits is not known. This study examined a diverse collection of spring B. napus genotypes produced in differing maternal environments for secondary seed dormancy as well as seed germination, vigor, and seed quality traits. Genotype contributed the most to total variability (46%), the interactions between genotype and environment had a moderate contribution (28%), and very little contribution from maternal environment alone (4%) was observed for the secondary seed dormancy trait. The remaining variability (22%) was allocated to the residuals. No association was observed between secondary seed dormancy and germination time or seed vigor traits in genotypes examined. Significant associations with secondary seed dormancy were detected for primary dormancy, total protein, seed fiber components, glucosinolates content, seed geographical origin, and fatty acid composition. According to the results of this study, the reduction of secondary seed dormancy as a breeding objective in canola breeding programs is feasible as the trait is largely genetically controlled. Furthermore, direct selection against secondary seed dormancy is unlikely to have adverse effects on canola seed germination and vigor given no associations were detected in the current study.

Cultivating perceptions of farm culture: Perspectives from the Canadian prairies.

Cultivating perceptions of farm culture: Perspectives from the Canadian prairies.