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Canola plant density responses in low and medium rainfall zones


Western Australia
February 17, 2014


Department of Agriculture and Food senior research officer Mark Seymour inspects a GRDC-funded canola plant density experiment at Salmon Gums in September 2013.

Department of Agriculture and Food research has revealed the optimum canola plant density for economic returns varies for different cultivars.

The outcomes of the department’s 2013 field trials, funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation, will be detailed at the Agribusiness Crop Updates to be held at Crown Perth on 24-25 February.

Department senior research officer Mark Seymour said 12 trials were conducted in low and medium rainfall zones throughout WA to determine the plant density response of different herbicide tolerance systems.

“The trials included 32 treatments in a split plot design with three replications,” Mr Seymour said.

“The treatments consisted of hybrid and open-pollinated triazine tolerant (TT) and RoundupReady (RR) canola systems, four cultivars and eight different plant densities,” he said.
“Cultivars tested included the open-pollinated variety GT Viper RR and the hybrid variety Hyola 404RR in the RR system, and the hybrid variety Hyola 450TT and either the open pollinated variety CB Telfer in the low rainfall zone or open pollinated variety ATR Stingray in the medium rainfall zone in the TT system.

“Target density treatments trialled were 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60 and 80 plants per square metre.”

Mr Seymour said seed size, germination and field establishment information was used to adjust the seeding rate of each variety in order to sow the same number of viable seeds for each density treatment.

“The field trial results revealed that open pollinated TT canola, which dominates the industry in Western Australia, has higher optimum densities, primarily due to the low seed cost for increasing density.

“RR hybrids had the lowest economic optimum plant densities as a result of both higher seed costs and the capacity to adapt to low plant densities.”

He said canola establishment rates varied widely depending on soil moisture, soil temperature and variety and plant establishment at the trial sites varied widely.

“Miling had the lowest establishment at 30 per cent due to drying of the soil following seeding, and similarly dry conditions at Cunderdin before and after seeding reduced establishment to 43 per cent,” Mr Seymour said.

“Both variety and target density/seed rate also had an effect on field establishment. In general, Hyola 404RR had the highest establishment (54 per cent) and GT Viper the lowest (39 per cent), with other varieties averaging 47 to 48 per cent,” he said.

“In 10 of the 11 trials, Hyola 404RR produced the highest or equal-highest gross margins.
“Our research revealed the economic optimum canola plant density is different for each type of canola and in some instances, growers may need to alter plant density based on rainfall.”

Agribusiness Crop Updates is Western Australia’s premier event showcasing the latest research, technology, market development and management innovations to improve the productivity and profitability of the Western Australian grains industry.

To attend the event, register on the GIWA website at giwa.org.au
 



More solutions from: Western Australia, Department of Primary Industries


Website: http://www.agric.wa.gov.au

Published: February 17, 2014


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