The effect of sowing date, nitrogen rate and irrigation on flowering and grain yield of four canola varieties – Condobolin 2017

2017

Research organisaton
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Ian Menz
Daryl Reardon
Craig Ryan
Year(s) 2017
Contributor Department of Primary Industries NSW
Trial location(s) Condobolin, NSW
Further information View external link
The effect of sowing date, nitrogen rate and irrigation on flowering and grain yield of four canola varieties – Condobolin 2017 locations
Aims

To determine the optimum sowing date, phenology and nitrogen management to optimise grain yield within the Central West region of NSW. These combinations were tested across two contrasting scenarios: irrigation versus dryland.

Key messages

• Variety phenology and sowing date need to match to avoid plants flowering and podding during periods of severe frost. The highest yield in 2017 came from the 6 April sowing of the long season varieties Archer and ATR WahooA that flowered in early August.

• ATR Stingray and Nuseed® Diamond flowered earlier than the optimum start of flowering (OSF) date (28 July) from both the 6 April and 20 April sowing dates with significant frost damage incurred at both sowing dates.

• Canola varieties have the ability to recover from severe frost damage where soil water is not limited.

Condobolin NSW 2017

This experiment highlighted the importance of matching varietal phenology and sowing date to achieve the correct flowering date to avoid stress and optimise yield. Sowing a fast developing variety early results in that variety flowering/podding during a period of high frost risk. However, this experiment did show that with increased plant available water, canola can recover from severe frost. Stated in Ten Tips to Early-Sown Canola the simulated OSF date for Condobolin is 25 July (Lilley et al. 2017). In 2017, treatments that flowered before late July were severely frosted. It is recommended that growers ensure a weed-free fallow to maximise water available to canola to aid in frost recovery. Rotation planning can also make a large difference; choose a crop sequence (such as pulses) that leaves some deeper sub-soil moisture for the canola crop. This experiment has shown that if additional water is available and the crop suffers frost damage it has the ability to recover.
 

Lead research organisation Department of Primary Industries NSW
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC CSP00187
Trial funding source DPI NSW
Related program Optimised Canola Profitability Project
Acknowledgments

This experiment was a joint investment by GRDC and NSW DPI as part of the collaborative project ‘Optimised canola profitability’, CSP00187, 2014–19, a partnership also including CSIRO and SARDI. Thanks to the operational staff at Condobolin ARAS for assistance throughout this experiment.


Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

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

Condobolin 2017

Sow date Multiple - please see report
Harvest date Harvested by hand as varieties reached maturity
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

70 kg/ha mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) 
 

Fungicide

Jubilee (flutriafol 500 g/L) at 400 mL/ha (fungicide on fertiliser)

Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Southern NSW Research Results 2018, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/southern-nsw-research-results

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
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
Condobolin, NSW Red brown loam
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Condobolin, NSW Kandosol
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 Condobolin NSW
2017 527.7mm
2016 518.5mm
2015 450.9mm
2014 441.3mm
2013 451.3mm
2012 506.5mm
2011 464.5mm
2010 454.9mm
2009 332.6mm
2008 323.0mm
2007 276.4mm
2006 286.2mm
2005 313.1mm
2004 293.7mm
2003 263.5mm
2002 268.4mm
2001 312.2mm
2000 355.0mm
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

Condobolin NSW 2017


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 99mm

Derived climate information

Condobolin NSW

CAUTION: Trial site locality unknown; Climate data sourced from Department of Primary Industries NSW office location
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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: 08-06-2023 16:01pm AEST