Gan: Farm Gate Investigation of Best Management Practices in Canola Establishment and Production Systems
Date: March 2013
Term: 2 years
Status: Completed
Researcher(s): Yantai Gan and Chang Liu, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Swift Current SK
SaskCanola Investment: n/a
Total Project Cost: n/a
Funding Partners: n/a
Project Summary
Researchers with AAFC conducted a comprehensive farm gate investigation on the best management practices that more advanced/experienced producers from across the major canola production zones of western Canada have been using in canola production. Overall, the study found that canola farmers achieving the greatest canola yields were seeding shallow and directly into chem-fallow (or crops with inherently short stubble) at earlier dates and with narrower row spacing, applying K fertilizer or greater rates of S, avoiding seeding into canola stubble, and seeding Liberty-Link cultivars. Factors other than those included in the analysis also affected canola productivity, and more studies are required to determine impacts of those undetermined factors.
Researchers with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in Swift Current conducted a comprehensive farm gate investigation on the best management practices that more advanced/experienced producers from across the major canola production zones of western Canada have been using in canola production. A total of 68 canola farm fields were randomly selected and sampled across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba in 2011-12.
The AAFC research team made multiple trips to those individual farms fields to count seedling emergence, measure seeding depth and row spacing, sample relevant soil properties and collect various yield-related variables. The producers involved in the study kindly provided other required data. The data set included the following variables:
Land: history of the land, previous crop types and yields, type of soil, soil fertility levels, soil organic matter, pH level, seedbed moisture level, herbicide history,
Seeding: specific brands of seeding implements, specific types of openers, variety type (Liberty-Link, Roundup-Ready, Conventional, Clear Field, Open Pollinated), seed source, seed treatments, seeding time/date, seeding depth, seeding characteristics and conditions at the time of seeding, seeding operation, direct-seeding or being cultivated before seeding, fertilization, weed control practices, etc.,
Straw management: trash cover at seeding, amount of straw, stubble height, ways of handling of previous straw, chopper, mower used (if any), any tillage operations, etc.,
Crop data: plant emergence date, plant counts, frost tolerance and damage, disease and insect levels, crop yield, etc., and
Weather data: rainfall, soil and air temperatures.
Results from the study showed there was a very large variation in terms of farming practices and approaches used in canola production across the individual farm fields; some of the cropping practices were adopted by the majority of the canola producers, whereas other practices were used only by a few individual farmers.
Overall, the study found that canola farmers achieving the greatest canola yields were seeding shallow and directly into chem-fallow (or crops with inherently short stubble) at earlier dates and with narrower row spacing, applying K fertilizer or greater rates of S, avoiding seeding into canola stubble, and seeding Liberty-Link cultivars. However, factors such as soil zone, level of trash cover, pre-seed herbicide, drill opener type, fungicide and insecticide applications did not have a significant effect on canola seed yield.
Stubble type or preceding crop had a significant effect on canola yields; in order of: chem-fallow>barley=oat=wheat > others=grain legumes=corn > canola. Canola grown on chem-fallow averaged 17% higher yields than canola grown on barley, oat or wheat stubble, and 43% higher than pea/lentil, corn stubble or ryegrass silage fields. Canola grown on canola stubble produced 54% of the seed yield of canola grown on cereal stubble or 46% of the seed yield of canola grown on chem-fallow. Straight combining of canola crops also resulted in significantly greater (500 kg/ha or 24% more) seed yield than conventional swath-combine method.
No pre-seeding tillage increased yields more than fields with tillage, up to 325 kg/ha more. Pre-seeding herbicide application also significantly affected canola yield, with the use of glyphosate plus MCPA significantly increasing canola yield by 35% compared to canola receiving none or glyphosate only. Fall application of glyphosate and pre-seeding glyphosate plus MCPA yielded similarly. The study also found that about 23% of the canola producers applied potash fertilizers in their canola crops. The data showed that canola receiving the K fertilizer increased seed yield by an average of 25% compared to canola without K fertilizer. (See Table 1)
From the study, researchers observed that canola productivity that is judged based on seeding rates is not scientifically sound, and instead, the actual plant density (i.e., plant establishment) should be used in predicting canola crop yields. Producers should take note of typical survival in their regions, and adjust their seeding rate accordingly to achieve the target plant stand.
Factors other than those included in the analysis also affected canola productivity, and more studies are required to determine impacts of those undetermined factors. However, the knowledge and findings generated in this on-farm experiment may be used to develop guidelines to assist less experienced canola producers with implementing best management practices for canola production in western Canada.
Table 1. Mean canola yield responses to key agronomic management practices in 2010-2011.
Full Report PDF: n/a