EFFECT OF ALTERING PLANT DENSITY ON GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS OF SUMMER RAPE

Abstract

The effect of 15- and 30-cm row spacings and 1.5, 3.0, 6.0 and 12.0 kg ha−1 seeding rates on growth characteristics, as measured by growth analysis, of summer rape (Brassica napus L.) was studied under southern Manitoba growing conditions. Growing degree days (GDD) was used in the growth analysis formulae as a measurement of time. Over all seeding rates, summer rape grown in rows spaced 15 cm apart produced more dry weight (W), a greater leaf area index (LAI) and a greater leaf area duration (LAD) than when grown in rows spaced 30 cm apart. The 15-cm row spacing treatments had a higher crop growth rate (CGR) and a greater net assimilation rate (NAR) than the 30-cm row spacing treatments. Summer rape grown at seeding rates of 6.0 and 12.0 kg ha−1 had a greater W, LAI and LAD during vegetative development than summer rape grown at seeding rates of 1.5 and 3.0 kg ha−1. This was primarily due to increased plant density. After flowering there were no differences for W, LAI and LAD attributable to differences in seeding rates. Summer rape grown at seeding rates of 6.0 and 12.0 kg ha−1 had a lower CGR and NAR during flowering than that grown at 1.5 and 3.0 kg ha−1 seeding rates indicating that plants produced from lower seeding rates were more photosynthetically efficient than plants produced from higher seeding rates.Key words: Brassica napus, growth analysis, row spacing, seeding rates, rape (summer)