| Summary: | <p>There has been much controversy, in recent years, on
the problem of expanding world population and the world's
ability to feed this larger population. The expansion of the
population is an undisputed fact. Thus, food producers must
accept the challenge and attempt to increase production to
meet the requirements as they develop. New efficient methods
of production must be designed and used. For the present,
however, it is probably more important to make the best
possible use of existing methods.</p>
<p>This use, of existing methods in the plant industries
means making use of available varieties, soil conservation
methods, irrigation facilities, pest controls, fertilizers
and any other practice that will help achieve and maintain
the highest possible production. It is quite simple to
recommend the use of all the best known methods, but determining
the optimum methods for each area is more difficult. Every
locality is going to be different due to soil type, topography
and climate. Therefore, no single cultural practice is going
to be universally good. Tests must be carried out in each
individual area.</p>
<p>The irrigation water soon to be made available because
of the new Gardiner Dam will open up a whole new field of
production for Central Saskatchewan. In anticipation of
this large scale irrigation, the Department of Horticulture
at the University of Saskatchewan has been involved in trials
designed to determine the optimum cultural practices for
growing irrigated vegetables in this area. Initially, this
work involved only irrigation studies on a number of vegetables.
The primary objective was to determine the optimum rate and
timing for irrigation. In addition, an attempt was made to
determine which vegetable crops would be commercially feasible
for this area. This portion of the work was carried out and
reported by Oliver Green in 1963.</p>
<p>The study has since been expanded to include fertility
studies. The present trials are designed to determine the
optimum fertilizer rates for potatoes and corn under irrigated
conditions. The work is being carried out on Asquith fine
sandy loam in Central Saskatchewan. This type of soil is
being used not only because it is common in the area projected
for irrigation, but also because it is a desirable soil
texture for vegetable production.</p>
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