Circular 61

Rapeseed is the oil-bearing seed from plants of the Brassica genus. It grows well in the cooler agricultural regions o f the world and for this reason has long been thought to be a promising crop for interior Alaska. Rapeseed has been grow n in India and China for thousands and in Europe for hundreds o f years (Bolton 1980). Its history in North America began in 1943 when a small quantity of seed was imported into Canada. In recent years, its production has been largely that from cultivars bred for production of seed low in erucic acid and glucosinolate content. Seed from these cultivars is referred to by the Canadian Rapeseed Industry as canola. Its qualities are desirable in the edible-oil market, the largest market for products from canola seed. Canada is now one of the world’s largest producers and is the world’s largest exporter o f rapeseed. The meal that remains after oil extraction is high in protein and is used as a supplement in livestock feeds. The whole seed can also be used as a feed supplement. Some cultivars o f rapeseed that are high in erucic acid are also grow n for use in plastics and industrial oils (Genser and Eskin 1979). In addition, forage rapeseed cultivars can be used as livestock pasture. Research concerning the production of rapeseed has been addressed by the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (AFES) for several years. O f specific concern has been the selection of appropriate cultivars (Wooding et al. 1978), response to various nitrogen (N) rates, row spacings and seeding rates (Lewis and Knight 1987), performance in reduced-tillage systems in rotation with barley (Knight and Lewis 1986), the potential for frost seeding in late fall and early spring (Knight and Sparrow 1984) and response to boron (B) to enhance early seed ripening (Wooding 1985). In addition, in 1978 the Cooperative Extension Service (CES) began conducting seminars on production o f rapeseed for Alaskan farmers. In 1979 and 1980, CES employed Dr. J.L . Bolton, a rapeseed specialist from the University o f Alberta, in an extension capacity to give technical assistance to farmers on producing rapeseed (Bolton 1980)

Faba beans in diets for growing-finishing pigs

Two experiments were carried out to study the effects of using the new faba bean (Vicia faba L.) cultivar Kontu as a domestic protein source for growing-finishing pigs.In Experiment 1,120 pigs were used with a body weight (BW)of 25–110 kg to study the effects of replacing 0, 25, 50, 75,and 100%of rapeseed meal with faba beans in barley +rapeseed meal based diets. Restrictedly fed grower and finisher diets contained 137–317 and 114–260 g kg–1 faba beans, respectively. A barley +soya bean meal based diet was included as a control. The replacement of rapeseed meal with faba beans exerted a quadratic effect on daily weight gain and on the feed conversion ratio of pigs in the growing period and during total fattening (P 0.05).In conclusion,inclusion of over 200 g kg–1 of faba beans in barley + rapeseed meal based diets is not recommended for growing pigs because it may result in reduced growth performance. Faba beans may influence meat colour,but this phenomenon should be investigated further

Organic rapeseed production in Finland

Most of the 56 organic rapeseed growers interviewed in this research acknowledged modest success in rapeseed yield (often under 500 kg/ha, on average about 800-900 kg/ha), but kept continuing cultivation because of other benefits such as good price and well functioning markets of the product, flexibility in sowing time, possibility to cultivate a temporary fallow to fight the weeds, and need for protein rich fodder for own or neighbor livestock. The main complications in rapeseed cultivation were unfavorable weather conditions, pests and insufficient nutrient levels for optimal yields. The farmers followed carefully the instructions from research and advisory institutions, but were also innovative in developing their own solutions to problems. Because of different conditions with neighboring farms, different soil types and climatic conditions, different sources of fertilizers and availability of pollinators, tailor-made solutions for every farm individually are imperative. Despite problems most farmers were optimistic and were readily investing in the future e.g. by renting and buying more field area for cultivation. Success in organic rapeseed cultivation seems to coincide with optimism, good relationships with family members and neighbors, availability of affordable fertilizers and relatively large cultivation area for efficient crop rotation

Guidelines for the Production of Rapeseed in the Delta-Clearwater Area of Alaska

Experience with the production of rapeseed in Alaska is limited. The material presented in this report is for preliminary planning only. It was prepared on the basis of published Canadian research, and studies of variety trials and planting dates during 1977 in interior Alaska. These guidelines will be revised when the results of additional research and experience with rapeseed production in Alaska becomes available

Learning in context – improved nutrient management in arable cropping systems through participatory research

Participatory research (PR) provides opportunities to build knowledge relevant to site-specific farms conditions. This study used a PR approach to develop nutrient management strategies in stockless organic farming. A thorough problem identification process was carried out and the problem prioritised was how to combine preceding crop effects with fertilisation strategy in crop rotations. On-farm fertiliser (biogas digestion residues, chicken manure and meat-bone meal) experiments were conducted in spring wheat and winter rapeseed. Significant yield responses were achieved in spring wheat, up to 1200 kg ha-1, and they were higher than in rapeseed. The implications of the results for nutrient management at crop rotation level are discussed

Impact of rapeseed press-cake on Maillard reaction in a cookie model system

Rapeseed press-cake (RPC) is a byproduct of rapeseed oil production, rich in proteins and fiber. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of cold pressed RPC, RPC fiber isolate and RPC alkaline extract on the formation of acrylamide and 5-hydroxymethylfufural (HMF) in cookies. Both compounds were influenced by the ingredients: the addition of RPC led to a significant dose-dependent increase of HMF in the cookies and to an increase of acrylamide up to 66.9%. On the contrary, acrylamide concentration was reduced down to 39.6% in presence of the alkaline extract and down to 4.4% in the presence of the fiber extract. The Michael addition of free amino acids to acrylamide was further investigated by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) revealing that cysteine was the preferred nucleophile for acrylamide elimination

Front-face fluorescence spectroscopy and chemometrics for quality control of cold-pressed rapeseed oil during storage

The aim of this study was to test the usability of fluorescence spectroscopy to evaluate the stability of cold-pressed rapeseed oil during storage. Freshly-pressed rapeseed oil was stored in colorless and green glass bottles exposed to light, and in darkness for a period of 6 months. The quality deterioration of oils was evaluated on the basis of several chemical parameters (peroxide value, acid value, K232 and K270, polar compounds, tocopherols, carotenoids, pheophytins, oxygen concentration) and fluorescence. Parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) of oil excitation-emission matrices revealed the presence of four fluorophores that showed different evolution throughout the storage period. The fluorescence study provided direct information about tocopherol and pheophytin degradation and revealed formation of a new fluorescent product. Principal component analysis (PCA) performed on analytical and fluorescence data showed that oxidation was more advanced in samples exposed to light due to the photo-induced processes; only a very minor effect of the bottle color was observed. Multiple linear regression (MLR) and partial least squares regression (PLSR) on the PARAFAC scores revealed a quantitative relationship between fluorescence and some of the chemical parameters.Funding Agency Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Poland NN312428239 Poznan University of Economics and Businessinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Air breakdown characteristics in plane-plane and sphere gap electrode configuration under lightning impulse

This report describes the air breakdown characteristics in plane-plane and sphere gap electrode configuration under lightning impulse. The breakdown in air (spark breakdown) is the transition of a non-sustaining discharge into a self�sustaining discharge. In electrical power system, high voltage power equipments are mainly subjected with spark over voltage. This over voltage which may causes by the lightning strokes, switching action and so on. In this project, two different electrodes (plane-plane and sphere gap) are used to study the air breakdown characteristics. This two electrodes are tested by using different gap start with 0.5 cm, 1.0 cm until 2.5 cm. Refer to British Standard BS EN 60060 that explained detail about the general definitions and test requirements for high voltage test techniques to construct in this project. In addition, TERCO lightning impulse circuit are use to obtain the lightning impulse waveform. To estimate U50 during the experimental, up and down method are used with the value of n ≥ 20. Finite element method magnetic software (FEMM) is use to shows the potential higher electric field occurs around the electrodes. Vector and contour around the electrodes also can be viewed. From this project can conclude that electric field distribution between two conductors (or electrodes) depends on applied voltage (U50), gap between electrodes, types and surface of electrodes. In the end of this project, the relationship between voltage (U50) and gap, electric field (|Emax|) and gap, field utilization factor (η) and gap, U50 and field utilization factor (η) and electric field (|Emax|) and field utilization factor (η) have been constructed with help of graph

Effects of Nitrogen, Lime, and Boron on Candle Rape Grown in the Trapper Creek and Pt. MacKenzie Areas of Southcentral Alaska

When growers in the Susitna Valley and later in the Pt. MacKenzie area of southcentral Alaska inquired as to the feasibility of growing rapeseed, we decided to determine the crops suitability and performance by conducting a field experiment. Bolton (1980) had attempted to predict the feasibility of producing rapeseed in Alaska's interior, but no research had been done in southcentral Alaska. We conducted one study from 1979 through 1981 on Rabideux silt loam (pH 5.1) near Trapper Creek and another from 1982 through 1984 on Kashwitna silt loam (pH 5.4) on the University of Alaska' s research tract in the Pt. MacKenzie area. The first area had been cleared prior to 197 8. This area was rototilled and roots removed in September 1978. The second area was on a tract cleared during the winter of 1981. After clearing, rotary plowing was done twice on the area. During the summer of 1981, roots were removed , and a field cultivator was used twice to loosen and bring roots to the surface