Nitrogen fertilizer placement for fall and spring seeded Brassica napus canola

Abstract

Brassica napus L. canola seeded in the fall (dormant) just prior to freeze-up, or in the early spring as soon as fields are passable, can improve productivity in semiarid regions on the Canadian prairies. The objective of this study was to assess N fertilizer placement options for alternative canola seeding dates. Herbicide-tolerant B. napus canola (cv. Quest) seedling density, phenological development, seed yield, seed weight, oil concentration, and protein concentration were assessed for four N (urea) placement options [banded prior to fall seeding date (only Melfort), broadcast in early-spring, side banded, and seed placed] and three seeding dates (late October, mid- to late April, and mid-May) at Scott and Melfort, SK, Canada. Nitrogen fertilizer placed with the seed often reduced seedling density. At Melfort, seed placed N fertilizer reduced the seed yield (10%), seed oil concentration (4%) and increased protein concentration (5%) of fall and mid-May seeded canola. The other N fertilizer placement options consistently maintained the highest level of canola production for all seeding dates. At Scott, seeding canola in fall or April generally maintained adequate plant stands, and often increased seed yield (43%), seed weight (18%), and oil concentration (5%) , when compared with the mid-May seeding date. Our results indicate that N fertilizer placement considerations used for the more traditional mid-May seeding date should be similar for canola dormant or April seeded. Current N fertilizer placement options, such as side banding, pre-plant banding or early-spring broadcasting, are options that resulted in equivalent crop yield responses. Given the variability in crop yield response measured with seed placement of N, we recommend that this practice should be a voided. Key words: Seeding date, dormant, direct seeding, alternative cropping practice, N fertilizer management