Diverse crop rotations are known to reduce the quantity of soilborne pathogens, while the continuous planting of any crop increases diseases and pests specific to that crop, causing a reduction in the yield.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of seeding date and seeding rate on the agronomic performance of open-pollinated (op) and hybrid Argentine canola in conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT).

The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of neonicotinoid seed treatments on flea beetle damage and the performance of Argentine canola seeded in early and late May.

The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of neonicotinoid seed treatments on flea beetle damage and the performance of Polish canola. Seed treatments reduced flea beetle damage and improved the performance of open-pollinated and synthetic Polish canola in all tests.

Field studies were undertaken in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan during the 2006 field season to investigate different management strategies for enhancing the effectiveness of natural enemies of cabbage seedpod weevil and diamondback moth in canola.

Sensor-based N management appears to have potential for enhancing agronomic N-use efficiency in canola production and, provided that the risks and benefits of sensor-based N management are managed appropriately, economic profitability for canola producers.

In this research project, the two main objectives were to investigate the responses of major insect pests and the Blackleg pathogen of canola to the two bacterial strains, Pseudomonas chlororaphis (PA23) and Bacillus amyloliquifaciens (BS6), plus jasmonic acid.

This study developed seed placed fertilizer rate recommendations for use when direct seeding canola with air seeders that have wide distribution patterns of seed and fertilizer.

In a one-year project conducted by the Wheatland Conservation Area at Swift Current in 2005, researchers evaluated straight cutting Brassica Juncea, Argentine canola, and Oriental mustard using three different headers, including a rigid straight cut header, a stripper header, and a BISO header extension.

A three-year project conducted at Brandon and Saskatoon from 2002 to 2004 examined the effects of decreased proportions of seed treated with insecticide on control of flea beetle damage to canola seedlings.

Overall seed damage (physical and germination) due to metering and distribution was less than 10% with no measurable effect from ground or air speed.

False cleavers, Galium spurium, is a major and increasing weed of canola and other crops in Alberta. Based on previous research in France, the European gall mite, Cecidophyes rouhollahi, was selected for field studies in Alberta to evaluate its potential as biological control of false cleavers.

For this two-year study, objectives were to evaluate the effect of seed production practices on canola seed performance, and to assess the ability of germination and vigour tests to predict the field performance of canola seedlots.

Several Lygus species are an important pest of many crops in Canada, particularly of canola and seed alfalfa, including the principal species Lygus lineolaris or Tarnished Plant Bug.

Three years of study have been completed toward developing an integrated management strategy of cabbage seedpod weevil, and to determine aspects of the overwintering biology of lygus bugs and cabbage seedpod weevil.

The effect of root maggots feeding on canola roots has not been fully quantified, but it is clear that large numbers of maggots reduce yield, and can cause plant death.

Canola yields are affected by year to year variations in growing season conditions, but also by many biotic actors on a field scale basis. A three-year Precision Farming study was conducted in Indian Head, Saskatchewan from 2000 to 2002 to look at the effects of nitrogen fertility, management zones, crop plant population, weeds and diseases on canola yields using a field scale approach.

Seed deterioration is the major cause of poor vigor in canola seedlings, which can reduce seedling emergence, crop establishment and yield.

In 1999, there was a trend towards low disturbance seeding and zero tillage systems, and towards shorter crop rotations using canola. Other than the seeding operation, zero-tillers believed that any other tillage operation would destroy many of the benefits of zero tillage.

In this three-year study, researchers wanted to better understand the levels of inputs required to optimize yields of newer open pollinated (OP) and hybrid canola varieties and to enhance producers ability to maximize return on their investment.