University of Lethbridge researcher examines viability of rice crops in Southern Alberta

“One of the big questions is how you are going to grow rice in Alberta,” says Konschuh. “I wasn’t all that confident when they first approached me, but they did bring some technology from Korea called seed film cultivation (SFC). It’s essentially a biodegradable plastic layer that they attach the seed to and lay over moist soil.”

Konschuh explains the three important benefits that SFC provides: it helps warm the soil, it prevents moisture loss, and it prevents weeds from taking root.

One problem Southern Alberta faces is that it tends to have a shorter growing season, and our climate is colder and drier than other countries where rice is produced. However, Konschuh says there are certain varieties of rice that have adapted to grow in mountainous regions with similar conditions.

Another problem rice crops would face in Southern Alberta is the fact that Alberta has long summer days, and rice prefers shorter days in order to flower.

A short-term pilot project was completed this spring and now the experiment has moved into the field. Galaxy Ag Ventures is providing necessary funding, while Farming Smarter is providing the land, technological expertise, and equipment. A U of L undergraduate student has also been hired to work on the project.

For the next phase, three different planting methods have been used. These include the SFC technique, transplanting plants grown in a greenhouse, and direct seeding. Two types of irrigation are also being used, including overhead pivot and subsurface drip.

Konschuh says so far things are going well.

“All three methods of planting have been successful so far,” Konschuh said. “What we don’t know is if we can get them all the way to rice seed production and maturation by fall. This is really early steps and the nice thing is that both B.C. and Ontario have successfully grown rice, so we know rice can grow in Canada. What we don’t know is if rice can grow in Alberta because our conditions are a little bit different.”

Depending on the outcome of the research, rice could potentially provide another viable crop option for farmers in the region.

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by Drew Stremick

University of Lethbridge researcher examines viability of rice crops in Southern Alberta

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