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Management for Maximum Economic Yield of Open Pollinated and Hybrid Canola

This research was initiated to determine whether higher yielding hybrid rapeseed (canola) varieties require a higher level of management to express higher yields, compared to older open pollinated canola varieities.

IPNI-1999-CAN-SK24

Overview Related Article
15 Mar 2001

Methodology

    In 2000 field experiments were conducted at Melfort (Thick Black), Indian Head (Thin Black), and Scott (Dark Brown). The main experiment was established to evaluate the effect of seeding rate, fertilizer, and fungicides on the yield of both an open pollinated variety (Quantum) and Hybrid variety (Invigor 2663). A second study increased the range of N application rates . Background levels of nitrogen to 60 cm depth, phosphate to 15 cm, potassium to 15 cm and sulfur to 60 cm depth were measured in the fall of 1999 or prior to seeding in 2000. Plots at Scott were seeded on May 12th using a Versatile hoe drill on a 20 cm row spacing. Plots at Indian Head were seeded on May 3rd with a Conserva-Pak and 30 cm row spacing and at Melfort on May 7th with a 23 cm spacing . Plots were swathed between August 18th and 31st at Scott, on August 15th at Indian Head and between August 28th and September 6th at Melfort after all agronomic and pathology data was collected.

    Main Experiment
    The main experiment was designed as a 3 level factorial with a fungicide strip where N levels were 67%, 100% and 120% of a target N level. Factors in the main experiment included 2 canola cultivars (hybrid and open pollinated variety) and three seeding rates 2.7, 5.8 ,8.4 kg/ha in addition to three N levels. Seed rates were categorized as low, middle and high and N rates as low, target, and high. At Scott nitrogen as urea (46-0-0) was mid row banded at rates of 50 kg/ha , 73 kg/ha, and 95 kg/ha while the phosphorous-sulfur blend (5.5-25.5-25-8.5) was applied below the seed row to all treatments at rates of 45 kg/ha, 67 kg/ha, and 90 kg/ha. This resulted in N rates that represent a narrower range than was planned, due to an error in setting the low and high rates. At Indian Head urea was side banded at rates of 125 kg/ha, 187 kg/ha, and 249 kg/ha with a fertilizer blend of 14-20-10-10 also side banded at rates of 112 kg/ha 170 kg/ha, and 226 kg/ha to adjust P levels. Seed-fertilizer separation was approximately 2.5 cm to the side and 6.4 cm below the seed. At Melfort urea was side banded at rates of 90 kg/ha, 170 kg/ha and 250 kg/ha with a fertilizer blend of 5.5-25.5-25-8.5 also side banded at rates of 25 kg/ha, 75 kg/ha and 125 kg/ha. The following table summarizes soil nutrient and applied nutrient levels on the main experiment.

    The fungicide strip received an application of Ronalin EG (vinclozolin at 500 g ai/ha) on July 7th at Scott and July 10th at Indian Head and 400 g ai/ha at Melfort on July 14th for control of sclerotinia. Weed control consisted of a spring application of Edge granular (ethafluralin at 1130 g ai/ha) at Indian Head and pre-emergent application of Roundup at all sites (445 g ai/ha of glyphosate at Scott and 890 g ai/ha at Indian Head and 660 g ai/ha at Melfort). At Scott an in crop application of Poast Ultra (sethoxydim at 211 g ai/ha) and Lontrel (clopyralid at 151 g ai/ha) was applied on June 13th. At Indian Head both cultivars received an in crop application of sethoxydim at 361 g ai/ha and clopyralid at 150 g ai/ha on June 7th . Plots at Melfort received sethoxydim at 222 g ai/ha on June 5th and June 19th and Muster (ethametsulfuron-methyl at 9 g ai/ha) on June 19th.

    Data collection included plant counts (Scott: June 8th , Indian Head: May 30th, Melfort: June 16th ), recording the start and end date of anthesis, seed maturity date, a disease survey prior to swathing ( Scott:August 22nd-24th, Indian Head: August 10th, Melfort: August 30th) pre-harvest above ground biomass yields (Scott: August 22nd-24th, Indian Head: August 14th, Melfort: August 31st), and grain yield (Scott: August 31st, Indian Head: Aug. 29th, Melfort: October 2nd) with a small plot combine. Percent protein with NIR analyser was determined. Percent green seed of harvest grain samples and % oil have yet to be determined.

    N Rate Study
    This study was designed as a factorial experiment with 6 different rates of applied N; 0,30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 kg/ha. Soil test N levels revealed 77 kg/ha of N to 60 cm at Scott, 68 kg/ha at Melfort and 17 kg/ha at Indian Head. Target seed rate for Quantum was 9 kg/ha with the hybrid seed rate adjusted to give the same number of viable seeds/m2. N was midrow banded at Scott prior to seeding and side banded at Melfort and Indian Head as 46-0-0 at the time of seeding. A blend of 5.5-25.5-25-8.5 was placed below the seed on all plots at a rate of 130 kg/ha at Scott and Melfort. At Indian Head a blend of 14-20-10-10 was applied at 130 kg/ha. Weed control measures, harvest operations and data collection activities were the same as on the main experiment with the exception of Select (clethodim at 35.6 g ai/ha) applied to plots at Indian Head on May 25th. Plots at Scott were not sprayed with a fungicide due to lack of disease. Plots at Melfort and Indian Head were sprayed with Quadris (azoxystrobin 125 g ai/ha) at the 2 leaf stage. The Melfort plots also receive an additional application of Ronilan EG (vinclozolin at 400 g ai/ha) on July 14th.