Edmonton (Rural Roots Canada) – Research underway at the University of Alberta is taking a long-term look at how crop rotation influence soil health across the Canadian Prairies.

Master’s student Erica Prins is examining soil health under different cropping systems, using a range of soil quality and agronomic indicators to better understand which rotations perform best in prairie ecosystems.

“Basically, I want to be able to measure soil health using different soil quality indicators and agronomic indicators, and from that be able to determine what the best cropping system could be in each of the different ecosystems of the Canadian Prairies,” says Prins.

Prins is currently in the second year of her master’s program and is building on research that began in 2018 under a previous PhD student. The project is designed as a long-term study, following multiple crop rotations over extended periods of time.

“I myself will hopefully graduate in 2028, but we will for sure continue this project for one more full four-year rotation, so that will bring it to the 12-year mark. That will take us till 2029, I suppose. It will continue at least until then, and then potentially longer if funding allows.”

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While the research is ongoing and data collection continues, Prins says one takeaway is already becoming clear: diverse crop rotations matter.

“I think the main thing is that crop rotations are great. We need to move more towards that instead of a really tight wheat-canola-wheat-canola rotation. Just diversifying your rotation, adding in a pulse crop would be really great. Then also being patient because soil health takes time. Once you implement a new practice, it takes a bit of time for you to see results, but the results will be worth it in the end.”

Researchers hope the findings will help producers make more informed decisions about crop planning, soil management, and long-term sustainability across the Prairies.