Coordinating agronomist: Audrey-Anne Pelletier
Organization: JMP Consultants
Practice: Nitrogen management
Trial started: Spring 2026
Barrier: Spring wheat producers in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region often farm G2 and G3 soils with more than 4% organic matter, but the new MAPAQ nitrogen guidelines adjust for organic matter only in G1 soils. As a result, standard recommendations may overestimate nitrogen needs in the region. While tight profit margins make producers reluctant to reduce rates without regional, spring wheat-specific evidence that yield can be maintained, lowering in-crop nitrogen could reduce fertilizer costs and improve profitability.
Description: Field trials on two farms will compare four nitrogen treatments in spring wheat. The control will receive up to 60 kg N/ha (54 lbs N/ac) at seeding with no additional nitrogen, while the other treatments will receive the same rate at seeding followed by post-emergence applications at Zadoks stage 26 of 30, 45, or 60 kg N/ha (27, 40 or 54 lbs N/ac). Soil and plant tissue nitrate levels, plant population, pest and weed pressure, grain yield, protein, and test weight will be assessed. An economic analysis will compare treatments to evaluate whether post-emergence nitrogen can be reduced on high-organic matter G2 and G3 soils without reducing profitability.