Growth, yield, and yield components of canola as affected by nitrogen, sulfur, and boron application

Abstract

Developing efficient nutrient management regimes is a prerequisite for promoting canola (Brassica napus L.) as a viable cash crop in eastern Canada. Field experiments were conducted to investigate the growth, yield, and yield components of canola in response to various combinations of preplant and sidedress nitrogen (N) with soil-applied sulfur (S) and soil and foliar-applied boron (B). Canola yield and all its yield components were strongly correlated (r 2 = 0.99) with the amount of N applied, as was the above-ground biomass at 20% flowering and the leaf area index. Sidedress N was more efficiently utilized by the crop, leading to greater yields than preplant N application. On average, canola yields increased by 9.7 kg ha -1 for preplant N application and by 13.7 kg ha -1 for sidedress N application, for every kg N ha -1 applied, in 6 of the 10 site-years. Soil-applied S also increased canola yields by 3-31% in 7 of the 10 site-years, but had no effect on yield components. While there was no change in yield from soil-applied B, the foliar B application at early flowering increased yields up to 10%, indicating that canola plants absorb B efficiently through their leaves. In summary, canola yields were improved by fertilization with N (8 of 10 site-years), S (7 of 10 site-years) and B (4 of 10 site-years). Yield gains were also noted with split N-fertilizer application that involved sidedressing N between the rosette and early flowering stage. Following these fertilizer practices could improve the yield and quality of canola crop grown in rainfed humid regions similar to those in eastern Canada.

Impact of a Clover Cover Crop Combined With Organic or Mineral Fertilizer on Yield and Nitrogen Uptake of Canola

“…Our results are in line with those obtained in Eastern Canada by Ma et al (2015) on sandy to loamy soils, where highest canola yields were achieved with N rates between 105 and 175 kg N ha -1 applied as urea at seeding. In another study conducted by Lafond and Pageau (2008) at Normandin and Hébertville (located at about 100 km from Normandin) on a silt clay and a silty clay loam respectively, highest canola yields were obtained at N rates between 80 and 120 kg N ha -1 applied as calcium ammonium nitrate.…”

Uptake and nutrient balance of nitrogen, sulfur, and boron for optimal canola production in eastern Canada

“…The experiments were carried out with Brassica napus L. hybrid Invigor 5440 under non‐irrigated conditions. As described earlier ( Ma et al., ), the study was initially conducted at four sites in 2011, but expanded to six sites in 2012. However, the Elora site at the University of Guelph in 2012 failed to collect plant samples for nutrient analysis and therefore was eliminated in this analysis.…”

“…The seasonal daily mean temperature and precipitation, soil characteristics, tillage, weed control, and other cultural practices are described in detail by Ma et al. ().…”

“…In an earlier paper ( Ma et al., ), we reported the growth and yield responses of a hybrid canola crop to the timing and rates of N, S, and B applications across eastern Canada. What remained uninvestigated was how S and B supply affects nutrient uptake.…”

A new method for assessing plant lodging and the impact of management options on lodging in canola crop production

“…All of these management options can alter soil water and nutrient uptake or even the agro–ecosystem conditions and agronomic performance, and then influence the phenology and the critical stage at which the sensitivity to crop lodging occurs21719. Although it is clear that these agronomic practices can significantly affect the morphological characteristics of shoot and root distributions5, few studies have been published regarding the direct influences of agronomic practices on the lodging resistance of canola plants.…”