Canola Digest 2015 Science Issue
Science

Yield drops with fewer than five plants per square foot

Key Practice: Analysis of 35 canola seeding rate studies shows that hybrid canola can achieve its yield potential when at least five plants per square foot survive to harvest. Project Title, Lead Researcher: “Determining the economic plant density in canola,” 2009, Steve Shirtliffe, University of Saskatchewan Grower Organization Funder: ACPC, SaskCanola This meta-analysis of 35...
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Science

Night spraying outperforms dawn for weed management

On average, herbicides were most effective when applied in the daytime, and night spraying gave better results than dawn application.
Key practice: Midday herbicide applications are most effective for canola; midnight application for grassy weeds. Project title, Lead researcher: “Night spraying — Pesticide efficacy with night time application (2012-14),” Ken Coles, Farming Smarter Grower organization funder: ACPC Any reduction in herbicide efficacy quickly impacts the return on input investment. With the short Prairie growing season,...
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Science

Feasibility of growing winter types of Brassica rapa in Alberta

Key practice: Growers in southern Alberta may want to consider winter B. rapa as a suitable alternative to hybrid spring canola (B. napus), which could be a good fit with other winter crops grown there, especially winter wheat. Project title, Lead researcher: “Evaluation of winter Brassica rapa for cultivation in Alberta,” 2007-11, Habibur Rahman, University...
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Science

Precise seed-to-seed spacing not necessary for canola

Key Practice: The key step in seed placement is to achieve the overall target population with some aspect of uniform distribution and depth. Precision tools to enhance seed spacing in the row provide little evident economic benefit. Project Title, Lead Researcher: “Seeding rates for precision seeded canola,” 2012-14, Gazali Issah, Western Applied Research Corporation Grower...
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Science

Reseed when fewer than two plants per square foot

While hybrid canola has a high degree of phenotypic plasticity that allows it to compensate for low plant populations, growers need to know when the population is likely too low to compensate for the reduced plant stand. Reseeding is more likely to provide an economic benefit when: the population is below 20 plants per square...
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