Nutrient deficiency diagnostic training with field and hydroponically grown crops
John Heard and Vikram Bisht, Crops Knowledge Centre, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Carman, MB R0G 0J0; Alvin Iverson, Ian N. Morrison Research Station, Carman, MB R0G 0J0

For fifteen years the Crop Diagnostic School has provided field scouting and diagnosis training annually for 300-400 agronomists at the University of Manitoba research station near Carman. For the past 7 years nutrient depleted sand boxes have been used to display deficiencies of P, K and S in crops of corn, soybeans, sunflowers, canola, wheat, flax and alfalfa. Micronutrient deficiencies evaded our best efforts to impose them. In 2010, 4 hydroponic beds were established in the field using silica sand and with circulation of appropriate nutrient solutions, deficiencies of Cu, Zn and B were created in wheat, canola, soybeans and dry beans. Participants at the Crop Diagnostic School earn CCA continuing education credits through their participation in this lesson and completion of a quiz.