Effect of time of sowing and variety choice on canola establishment and yield – Trangie 2012

Abstract

Key findings • In western NSW moisture seeking canola (sowing seed deeper than 3 cm) in early-mid April into marginal moisture conditions may result in lower plant establishment rates than sowing just prior to or just after a rainfall event. • Waiting until there is adequate moisture for sowing (early May), or dry sowing (late April) with a reliable forecast of follow up rain, achieved higher yields in 2012 than sowing earlier in mid- April. However the yield loss from early sowing in 2012 was assumed to be due to more than just lower establishment rates. • In 2012 a high number of frost events contributed to the reduced yield potential of early planted (mid- April) canola in this trial at Trangie Agricultural Research Centre.