A weekly report prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
EVALUATION OF NITROGEN AND PLANTING EQUIPMENT IN SPRING CANOLA
Spring canola yields have been strong in Ontario in the past two years, but are we meeting our yield potential? Are there ways to profitably increase yields?
In 2017, a trial was conducted by Deb Campbell of Agronomy Advantage Inc. and Darcy Martin on Darcy’s farm in Kenilworth, Ontario to test and demonstrate management practices that maximize canola yields. Profitability comparisons were made across the various treatments. The trial was conducted at one site in one year, so further testing would be required to validate the results, but Campbell and Martin’s work demonstrates some management practices farmers can consider trying on their own farms.
It is suspected that rates of nitrogen commonly applied in Ontario canola may not be high enough to support yield potential. Canola requires approximately 3 to 3.5 pounds of nitrogen per bushel of grain produced. The yield goal for this field was 75bu/ac, so the highest nitrogen rate used in the trial (225lb/ac) reflects the 3lb N/bu requirement. The form of nitrogen used in the trial was Amidas, a homogenous granular fertilizer containing urea and ammonium sulfate (7:1 N to S ratio). During the season, some potassium deficiency was observed in tissue testing.
Canola Emergence: Conditions were moist in the spring, leading to excellent rates of emergence. Nearly all plots, regardless of seeding rate or planting equipment, had approximately 100% emergence by 28 days after planting. In contrast, emergence rates in Ontario typically range from 60 to 75 per cent. In the strip planted with 6.25lb of seed/ac (not replicated) only 66% emergence was observed at 28 days after planting, indicating there may have been an error in seeding.
At eight days after planting, plots seeded with the Monosem planter had reached greater than 30% emergence, while those seeded with the drill had lower than 20% emergence. In addition, the final number of plants/ft2 ranged from 11.7 to 12.9 in the plots seeded at 4.75lb/ac with the Monosem planter whereas plots seeded with the drill at 5b/ac had stands ranging from 12.4 to 17.4 plants/ft2. Although final plant stands were similar, the more precise placement of seed with the Monosem planter resulted in faster emergence and more consistent stands compared to the drill.
For full article and graphs, please see http://fieldcropNews.com/2018/03/canolaproject/
Written by Meghan Moran, canola and edible bean specialist
