Plant density in low rainfall canola

2013

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Mark Seymour
Year(s) 2013
Contributor Department of Agriculture and Food WA
Trial location(s) Salmon Gums, WA
Plant density in low rainfall canola locations
Aims

To investigate the plant density response to yield and oil content of TT and RR hybrid canola in comparison with open-pollinated canola

Key messages

 

  • Grain yields of most canola varieties at Salmon Gums started to plateau at ~ 20 plants/m²
  • Taking into account the costs of increasing plant density we calculated the economic optimum for higher cost seed types such as RR and hybrid TT to be 25 plants/m² or less
  • Hyola 404RR had the flattest response indicating its yields were less affected by lower plant densities.
Lead research organisation Department of Agriculture and Food WA
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC DAW00227
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

This trial is one of a series conducted throughout WA as part of the GRDC/DAFWA co-funded project “Tactical Break Crop Agronomy in Western Australia”.  Thanks to the Osborne family for hosting the trial and to the Esperance RSU for trial management.  Pam Burgess (DAFWA. Esperance) provided technical assistance to ensure all treatments and measurements occurred in a timely and accurate fashion.


Other trial partners Not specified
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Method

Crop type Oilseed: Canola
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Variety
  • Sowing: Rate
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Salmon Gums 2013

Sow rate or Target density 8 densities of 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60, or 80 plants/m²
Sow date 17 April 2013 17 April 2013
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication 3
Fertiliser

Fertiliser (kg/ha) 99 kg/ha of Allstar at seeding (13.1%N, 14.8%P, 15%S, 0.1% Cu, 0.2% Zn, 7ppm Mo, 0.02% Mn), 120 kg/ha of Muriate of Potash and 400 kg/ha of gypsum (17% Ca, 14% S) topdressed over whole site 4 weeks after seeding, 145 L/ha of UAN (32%N) at June 3.

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Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Salmon Gums, WA Sandy loam
Derived trial site soil information
Soil Moisture Source: BOM/ANU
Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year, estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system.
Year Salmon Gums WA
2013 455.7mm
2012 450.6mm
2011 422.2mm
2010 424.5mm
2009 450.8mm
2008 461.0mm
2007 447.7mm
2006 438.3mm
2005 429.1mm
2004 444.5mm
2003 473.4mm
2002 445.4mm
2001 416.1mm
2000 424.5mm
National soil grid Source: CSIRO/TERN
NOTE: National Soil Grid data is aggregated information for background information on the wider area
Actual soil values can vary significantly in a small area and the trial soil tests are the most relevant data where available

Soil properties

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Climate

Salmon Gums WA 2013


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg gsr (mm) 206mm

Derived climate information

Salmon Gums WA

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Some data on this site is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology

SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol 16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.



Trial last modified: 28-05-2019 11:58am AEST