Increasing yield and profit by straight-cutting canola

Non-Peer ReviewedStraight combining canola (Brassica napus) can save producers time, fuel costs, and equipment wear. Research was undertaken at three locations to determine if straight combining shatter losses would be reduced sufficiently with higher yield potential to make straight combining viable in western Canada. This research employed a randomized complete block design. Treatments included crop density (low and high), fertility (low and high), time of weed removal (early and late), and harvest time (early and late). Factors were selected to offer a range of yields to evaluate the relationship between potential yield and shatter loss. Overall, factors causing shatter loss and crop yield differed between locations. Not surprisingly, crop density was affected by target crop density and percent green seed was affected by harvest timing

Increasing yield and profit by straight-cutting canola

Non-Peer ReviewedStraight combining canola (Brassica napus) can save producers time, fuel costs, and equipment wear. Research was undertaken at three locations to determine if straight combining shatter losses would be reduced sufficiently with higher yield potential to make straight combining viable in western Canada. This research employed a randomized complete block design. Treatments included crop density (low and high), fertility (low and high), time of weed removal (early and late), and harvest time (early and late). Factors were selected to offer a range of yields to evaluate the relationship between potential yield and shatter loss. Different components of potential yield were important in determining yield and seed losses before and during harvest operations. In Lacombe, fertility has been the most important factor. In Vegreville, timing of weed removal was paramount in 2006. At Scott in 2006, it appears that all operations must be conducted under best management practices or there is a substantially increased probability of reduced yield when straight-cutting. These results generally fit the hypothesis that ability to straight-cut is dependent upon maximizing potential yield. Under higher-yielding conditions, a key factor has led to success at straight-cutting. Under low-yielding conditions, all factors contributing to increased potential yield must be used to ensure feasibility of straight-cutting

How much phosphorus do crop residues release under conventional and zero tillage systems?

Non-Peer ReviewedIn a field experiment conducted at Fort Vermilion in north-western Alberta, we used the litter bag method to quantify phosphorus (P) release from red clover green manure, field pea, canola and wheat residues under conventional tillage and zero tillage. Wheat residues added significantly less P (1.7 kg ha-1) to the soil than the other residues (5.6-8.5 kg P ha-1). Tillage had no significant effect on residue P applied, but the trend was for slightly greater amounts under ZT than under CT. Clover released the most P (3.8 kg ha-1 under CT and 2.8 kg ha-1 under ZT, compared with 1.4 kg ha-1 or less from the other residues). There were no significant tillage effects on the amounts released by clover, pea and canola residues, but wheat immobilized 0.2 kg P ha-1 under ZT compared with 0.4 kg P ha-1 released under CT. Soil phosphate contents were not significantly different between tillage systems. Phosphate contents decreased with soil depth, especially under ZT. However, there was no tillage by soil depth interaction with canola residues, where soil phosphate was greater (although not significantly) under ZT than under CT at all depths. Uptake of P by wheat was significantly greater where pea and, to a lesser extent, canola residues had been applied than where clover and wheat residues had been applied, and tillage had no significant effects on P uptake

Uniform plant stands promote pod set and boost seed yield in canola

Non-Peer Reviewe

Update on fall dormant seeded canola research

Non-Peer Reviewe

A decade of herbicide-resistant crops in Canada

Non-Peer ReviewedThis review examines some agronomic, economic, and environmental impacts of herbicide-resistant (HR) canola, soybean, corn, and wheat in Canada after 10 years of growing HR cultivars. The rapid adoption of HR canola and soybean suggests a net economic benefit to farmers. HR crops often have improved weed management, greater yields or economic returns, and similar or reduced environmental impact compared with their non-HR crop counterparts. There are no marked changes in volunteer weed problems associated with these crops, except in zero-tillage systems when glyphosate is used alone to control canola volunteers. Although gene flow from glyphosate-HR canola to indigenous populations of bird’s rape in eastern Canada has been measured, enrichment of hybrid plants in such populations should only occur when and where herbicide selection pressure is applied. Weed shifts as a consequence of HR canola have been documented, but a reduction in weed species diversity has not been demonstrated. Reliance on HR crops in rotations using the same mode-of-action-herbicide and/or multiple in-crop herbicide applications over time can result in intense selection pressure for weed resistance and consequently, greater herbicide use in the future to control HR weed biotypes. History has repeatedly shown that cropping system diversity is the pillar of sustainable agriculture; stewardship of HR crops must adhere to this fundamental principle

Economics of preceding crops and nitrogen application rates for canola and barley production in western Canada

Non-Peer ReviewedThe objective of this study was to evaluate the economic effects of a range of legume and non-legume preceding crops and N rates on costs and net revenue (NR) of canola (Brassica napus L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and canola-barley rotation under various environmental conditions. Legumes such as field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) as preceding crop generated higher net revenues for the following crops canola and barley than when wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and canola were the preceding crops. Although faba bean (Vicia faba L.) grown as a green manure produced the highest annual net revenues for the following crops canola and barley, this contribution was not enough to compensate for the loss of income during the green manure production year. Therefore, growing faba bean as a green manure was not economical. Response of net revenue to N rates was mainly linear or quadratic, and N was optimal at 60 to 90 kg ha-1 at most sites. The results indicate that growing legumes for seed prior to canola can increase net revenues of canola and subsequent barley

Contribution of legume preceding crops to improve economic and non-renewable energy use efficiency of canola production

Non-Peer Reviewe

Phenoxy herbicides in Alberta rainfall: cause for concern?

Non-Peer ReviewedA survey for herbicides in air was conducted by analyzing rainfall at eight Lethbridge area locations. Rainfall samples were collected at weekly intervals from May 30 to August 17, 1998 and analyzed for 2,4-D, bromoxynil, dicamba, MCPA, diclofop, fenoxaprop, quinclorac, triallate and trifluralin using a MSD-GC method. With few exceptions, herbicides were detected at every sample date, at every location. 2,4-D was detected most frequently, and in the highest amounts, with bromoxynil and dicamba usually also present. The other herbicides were not detected. On June 12, 2,4-D was detected at two rural locations at 5.1 and 3.6 ppb compared with the Canadian Aquatic Life guideline of 4 ppb. Some high herbicide levels (2.0 and 4.3 ppb) also occurred in early July. Levels at the three city residences (maximum 1.0-1.6 ppb) were lower than at the rural locations. These herbicide detections results raise several concerns