Canola BMP Trial - Raising the Yield Bar

Sharp increases in production costs have farmers looking for ways to squeeze every bushel they can out of their crops. To pave the way to higher canola yields, the Grey Soil & Crop Improvement Association in conjunction with the Ontario Canola Growers launched a canola Best Management trial in 2008. Foliar fungicide was tested alone and also in combination with boron and insecticide.

Fungicide, Boron & Insecticide Applications?

Boron is of interest to canola growers because canola requires more boron than other field crops. The University of Guelph reported a significant response to boron in 2007 trials. Insecticide application at flowering has improved yields in years when high populations of seedpod weevil and/or tarnished plant bugs have occurred. Plots were monitored for growth, nutrient deficiencies, and pests. Soil and tissue samples were collected and results are being analyzed.

The average yield achieved by co-operators was an incredible 2,583 lb/acre (2,935 kg/ha), with several co-operators breaking yields of 3500 lbs/acre (3,977 kg/ha)! Canola yields improved only slightly with increasing inputs.

No Economic Benefit

None of the treatments increased $ returns over the check treatment (no foliar application). Sclerotinia (white mould) was present in all plots at moderate levels. Visual differences were evident between the check (no foliar application) versus those that received a fungicide application. Surprisingly though, fungicide treatment only improved returns at 2 (Owen Sound, Chatsworth) out of 9 sites. It is not clear why the fungicide did not improve yields more, given that there was significant sclerotinia pressure. One reason may be that sclerotia levels in the soil were very low following several years of low pressure and the disease did not gain a foothold until later in the season.

No Significant Yield Improvements

The addition of boron or insecticide did not significantly improve yields. Populations of seedpod weevil and plant bug were low in 2008. This highlights the value of a scouting program and using thresholds to make decisions on product application.

Canola growers definitely had weather on their side this year, with moderate temperatures and adequate (or too much) rainfall combining to produce record canola yields. Overall, results of the trial showed little benefit to any of the treatments this season, but what about next year?

1.0 lb/ac = 1.136 kg/ha

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