In partnership with LUARS (Lakehead University Agriculture Research Station), RAIN developed a research project in order to find the optimum seeding time of galega in its establishment year, in terms of weed control and yield. Taking place in Algoma and Thunder Bay, the project completed its third year and final year in 2020.
There are two separate areas of galega in the Algoma trial. One planted in mid-June (early planting) and one planted mid-July (late planted). The mid-July planted galega was planted after the weeds had grown up and then been sprayed off. This method was used to see if the galega would be able to establish better without the pressure of weeds but much later in the season.
Thunder Bay had 10 treatments in total;
- Alfalfa seeded at 15 kg/ha
- Galega seeded in spring as early as possible
- Weeds killed off in spring before planting
- Galega seeded after barley harvest
- Galega seeded mid-july after killing off weeds
- Galega seeded after pre-plant incorporation of Rival (trifluralin) @ 3L/ha
- Galega seeded after pre-plant incorporation of Rival (trifluralin) @ 3L/ha
- Galega sprayed with Sencor @ 275 g/ha post-emergent
- Galega sprayed with Basagram Forte @ 1.75L/ha post-emergent
- Galega sprayed with Pursuit @ 210 ml/ha + Ag-Surf @ 0.25% v/v post- emergent
The galega grew well this year but so did the weeds. The summer of 2020 was not a great growing year, with colder temperatures than expected in May and June. Overall, the highest yielding treatments was when the galega was seeded as early as possible at both locations, as well as three herbicide treatments from Thunder Bay. Yields were as follows:
