Holzapfel: Cultivar Considerations for Straight Combining

Date: March 2014
Term: 4 years
Status: Completed
Researcher(s): Chris Holzapfel, MSc, PAg, IHARF
SaskCanola Investment: n/a
Total Project Cost: n/a
Funding Partners: n/a

Project Summary

Straight combining canola can save time and money and result in improved seed quality. However timing of harvest is critical to reduce the risk and magnitude of yield losses from preharvest shattering and pod drop losses. In a recent research project funded by SaskCanola, preliminary results show losses from current hybrids often tend to be quite low, but can still be high when unfavourable weather is combined with delayed harvest or disease levels are high.

Chris Holzapfel, Research Manager with the Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation (IHARF) in Saskatchewan, initiated a four-year study in 2011 at four sites including Indian Head, Melfort, Scott and Swift Current. The project evaluated the potential for pod shattering and pod drop amongst 12 commercial cultivars across all herbicide systems, including some of the new shatter tolerant varieties. Two harvest dates were included, one at the optimal time and the final harvest completed three to four weeks later.

"The results to date are still preliminary as the trials continue in 2014 and data analyses for 2013 are incomplete," says Holzapfel. "Preliminary results show that significant varietal differences on shattering losses are frequently detected, but not always consistent from site to site. Substantial losses in all cultivars occurred when severe conditions were encountered and the opposite was generally true under more favorable conditions." The graph shows the variety rankings for shatter losses in 2011-2012 at the late harvest timing.

In years where shattering losses were low such as 2013, all of the cultivars evaluated performed pretty well. However, in years where conditions were challenging such as the severe wind events in 2012 and higher than usual sclerotinia incidence, all of the cultivars were impacted and there were severe losses in all treatments. The graphs shows results from the second harvest date in 2013, showing the cumulative losses approximately three to four weeks past the optimal harvest date.

Overall, the preliminary results show that the new lines with improved shattering resistance performed very well, but other hybrids often performed equally well on a site-to-site basis. "The new improved hybrids show promise, but will likely have their limitations and still need field testing in commercial fields," says Holzapfel. "Other factors such as herbicide system, relative maturity and overall standability are likely equally important to consider when choosing from the vast majority of current hybrids. Growers can expect to see more new hybrids with improved shatter resistance to be released in the next few years."

Figure 2. Trial results from the second harvest date in 2013, showing the

cumulative losses approximately 3 to 4 weeks past the optimal harvest date.

Source: C. Holzapfel, IHARF.

Figure 3. Trial results from the second harvest date in 2013, showing the

cumulative losses approximately 3 to 4 weeks past the optimal harvest date.

Source: C. Holzapfel, IHARF.

Full Report PDF: n/a