Optimizing Canola Production: Fertilization, Crop Protection and Genetic Yield Potential
Examine the individual and combined impact of three types of crop inputs: fertilization, crop protection and genetic potential for yield for canola (oil rapeseedl).
IPNI-2002-CAN-MB17
10 May 2002
Methodology
- Experimental Design: The experiment will focus on three general types of inputs: fertilization, crop protection and genetic yield potential. Three levels of each treatment will be included: low, medium and high. The level of each input will be established according to the following general principles:
Fertilization
Low fertility - no fertilizer added
Medium fertility - based on soil test, medium target yields (35 bu/ac)
High fertility - based on high target yields (50 bu/ac) for soil test, plus “insurance” applications of K, S, and micronutrients (B, Cu, Zn)
Crop Protection
Low protection - no pesticides (including no seed treatment)
Medium protection - IPM; scout for weed thresholds; for broadleaf and grass weeds, apply low cost post plant herbicide. For insects, no seed treatment for flea beetle; scout and spray if required. For disease, use seed treatment, but scout and apply fungicide for protection from Sclerotinia only if warranted
High protection - Preventative and “insurance” – e.g., preplant-incorporated plus post plant herbicides, treat seed with fungicides and use granular seed treatment (e.g., Counter 5G); apply fungicide for Sclerotinia control.
Seed/Genetics
Low yield genetics - “Bin run” public variety, e.g., Innovator
Medium yield genetics - Good yielding open pollinated variety, e.g., 46A65
High yield genetics - High yield potential hybrid, e.g., Liberty link 2575
The experiment will be an incomplete factorial design. Due to limited resources, most of the interactions will be explored only at the medium and high levels of each input (Treatments #1 to 8 in table). Treatment #9 is a “check” with low levels of all inputs; this treatment, along with treatments #10 to 12 are “reference treatments” that will allow us to compare several methods to measure the response to individual or combined inputs. Treatments will be replicated four times in randomized complete blocks
Treatment list
Treatment # | Fertilization Level | Crop Protection Level | Seed/Genetic Level |
1 | Medium | Medium | Medium |
2 | High | Medium | Medium |
3 | High | High | Medium |
4 | Medium | High | Medium |
5 | Medium | High | High |
6 | High | High | High |
7 | Medium | Medium | High |
8 | High | Medium | High |
9 (low input) | Low | Low | Low |
10 (fertilizer check) | Low | High | High |
11 (pesticide check) | High | Low | High |
12 (seed/genetics check) | High | High | Low |
Measurements
- Crop emergence and morphological development
- Environmental conditions (temperature and rainfall)
- Lodging and harvestability ratings
- Total dry matter yield
- Grain yield and quality
- Crop nutrition: tissue sampling for nutrients at late rosette/early bolting
- Crop pests: diseases, weeds and insects.
- Economics: all current costs and returns will be recorded; however, the input, yield and quality data will also be used to generate information for other scenaros (e.g. with higher or lower input costs and/or higher or lower canola prices)