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Conventional land conversion versus mulching: Is your approach worth change?
By Haylee Archambault, NOFIA and NEOSCIA
A recent news release from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) confirms Ontario has lost 4.7% of its productive agricultural land base from 2016 to 2021. This statistic translates to a loss of 319 acres per day, up from the previous rate of 175 acres per day between 2011 and 2016 across the province. Consequently, with challenges from urban expansion in other parts of the province, and opportunities for diverse crop production due to climate change in Northern Ontario, the need for agricultural land in Northern Ontario has also increased.
While there are pockets of land available across the north, the largest is the Clay Belt, located in Northeastern Ontario and consisting of available fertile soils which were farmed many years ago. Although today this production area consists of brush regrowth from generations of non- use, it has potential to be reclaimed as farmland. Overall, the conversion of land from wooded and brush areas to productive farmland continues to be a critical part of agricultural growth in Northern Ontario.

The conventional method of land conversion involves removing all sellable timber from the land and then bulldozing the topsoil and leftover biomass together. However, there is a potential 40% loss in soil organic matter as well as a possible decline in soil health associated with this conversion approach if not done correctly. To lessen the negative effects of land conversion on soil organic matter reserves and soil health, large industrial shredders that mulch and subsoil the leftover biomass are now being utilized by producers and contractors. Although this method of mulching allows for land to be put into agricultural production much more quickly than conventional clearing, farmers have been discouraged by reported yield decreases and the necessity for high fertilizer demand to assure practical yields.

With limited research on the impact of land conversion practices on soil health in Northern Ontario. Dr. Amanda Diochon from Lakehead University is conducting a study examined and compared different methods of land conversion. The result of that project was the creation of an authoritative Land Clearing Guide, outlining all the options, costs, and concerns associated with converting land in Northern Ontario. This guide can be found on NOFIA’s website. Dr. Diochon’s project is an extension of NOFIA’s work, and focuses on three particular objectives:

1. Compare the effects of land conversion practices used in Northern Ontario on soil health and soil organic matter stores.
2. Identify best management practices for land conversion in Northern Ontario that maintain or enhance soil health and grain crop yield.
3. Determine the profit margins of land conversion and agricultural management practices to identify the most economical way to increase Ontario’s agriculturally productive land base.

Dr. Diochon has selected farms in the Temiskaming, Cochrane, Rainy River, and Thunder Bay districts that have incorporated mulch during conversion and those that were conventionally converted within the last ten years.
Ten farms in each district for both conversion approaches are being sampled. Soil indicators such as carbon and nitrogen ratios and soil organic matter will be used to determine which land conversion approach maximizes soil health and organic matter reserves.
On one farm in the Thunder Bay district, a field experiment will be conducted to assess the effects of:

• Fertilizer application rate,
• Mulched residue timing and incorporation,
• A high biomass crop for the first two years to allow thorough breakdown, and
• Rotation on grain crop yield and soil

The outcomes of these assessments will be utilized to determine the optimal management techniques to improve crop output and soil health.
To find the most cost-effective strategy to expand productive land in Northern Ontario, an economic study will be used. For instance, the expenditures incurred in the study, as well as provincial market pricing, will both be used to calculate the financial costs related to each land conversion approach.
Additionally, revenue will be determined in each year of the trial based on yields per hectare and current grain market prices in the province. Lastly, profit margins will be determined as the annual per-hectare difference between costs and revenues.
The study will determine how soil health is affected by both conventional land conversion and mulching. In addition, findings will indicate how crops grown after land conversion can environmentally, profitably, and sustainably influence producers.
The results from this study will help producers more efficiently convert land for agricultural production. Producers in Northern Ontario that fit the criterion for the study are encouraged to participate.
Contact Dr. Amanda Diochon from Lakehead University at: adiochon@lakeheadu.ca for more information.
You can find more information on land conversion methods on NOFIA’s website at: www.nofia-agri.com/ nofia-projects.
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