Influence of meteorological conditions on the yield of winter oilseed rape in Lower Silesia

Abstract

Abstract Influence of meteorological conditions on the yield of winter oilseed rape in Lower Silesia. This work uses the results of Post-registration Cultivar and Agricultural Experimentation conducted in 1999-2011 in Lower Silesia, on soils of very good and good wheat complex. The rape vegetation season was divided into five periods that approximately corresponded to the phenological phases of the plant, namely: September-November (from sowing to stemming the growing season in the autumn), December-March (stunted vegetation - renewal of vegetation), April (renewal of vegetation - the beginning of flowering), May (flowering), June (end of flowering - technical maturity). In the constructed regression model the following factors were included: the average air temperature and total precipitation in the periods, the content of phosphorus, potassium and pH of soil and fertilization with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Comparing the impact of meteorological conditions in different growing periods of winter rape, it was found that the weakest impact on the yield had temperature and precipitation from September to November. During this period, the optimum for yield are the following conditions: average temperature 10.4°C and precipitation total 145 mm. The winter period (December- March) has the strongest impact on the yield of rape. The yield is conspicuously higher with lower average air temperatures. Optimal for yield is precipitation of 171 mm (highest tested) and a relatively low average air temperature (-0.9°C). In April, the decisive factor is rainfall. Its lower values (12 mm) favour higher yield. The optimum weather in this period is 12 mm precipitation and average temperature of 9.1°C. Rape yield increases with increasing average air temperature in May and is highest when its value is 15°C and rainfall in this month is above average (73 mm). The weather in June has less impact on rape crop than in the three previous periods. The optimal layout is: 27 mm precipitation and temperature 16°C, these values being the smallest tested