Sources of Nutrients for High-Yielding Winter Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.) during Post-Flowering Growth

Witold Grzebisz,Witold Szczepaniak,Stanisław Grześ

doi:10.3390/agronomy10050626

Witold Grzebisz, Witold Szczepaniak + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10050626

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Abstract

Nutrient management by winter oilseed rape (WOSR) during the seed filling period (SFP) is crucial for seed density (SD), which subsequently determines seed yield (Y). This hypothesis was evaluated based on data from field experiments (2008-2010), with six treatments with sequentially added nutrients (0, NP, NPK, NPKMgS1(1/3 total MgS rate—spring applied), NPKMgS2 (total MgS rate autumn applied); NPKMgS3 (2/3-autumn, 1/3-spring). Nutrients accumulated in seeds were revealed as the most reliable WOSR trait, determining SD and Y. Yield was defined by the amounts of K and Mg in seeds. The amount nutrient remobilized from vegetative WOSR tissues was sufficient to cover the crop requirements during SFP for N, P, and Zn, but not for Ca, K, Mn, and Cu. The post-flowering K uptake resulted in PD, and SD increase, which subsequently resulted in a concomitant net uptake of Ca and Mg. The excessive accumulation of Ca, as well as Cu, and Mn in seeds due to a shortage of Mg, subsequently resulted in both SD and Y depression. The efficient exploitation of WOSR yielding potential as defined by SD, is possible, provided during the SFP reveals a net K and Mg uptake.

Highlights

The importance of winter oilseed rape (WOSR) as a source of plant oil, which can be used for both food and bio-diesel production, as an example of a green energy source, is well known [1].reasons for low yields, or their stagnation in the leading producers, are not well recognized [2,3].Most scientific papers dealing with WOSR focus on key nutrients, such as N, P, K [4,5]
The detailed objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of balanced WOSR fertilization on the size of both internal and external pools of nutrients on the pod density, seed density, thousand seed weight and seed yield
Yield of the seed crop is a function of two basic yield components, i.e., seed number per unit area, Yield of the seed crop is a function of two basic yield components, i.e., seed number per unit expressed as seed density (SD) and an individual seed weight, presented as thousand seed weight, area, expressed as seed density (SD) and an individual seed weight, presented as thousand seed

Summary

Introduction

The importance of winter oilseed rape (WOSR) as a source of plant oil, which can be used for both food and bio-diesel production, as an example of a green energy source, is well known [1]. Most scientific papers dealing with WOSR focus on key nutrients, such as N, P, K [4,5]. This, narrow fertilization concept, is true, provided there is a high soil fertility level, typical of old agricultural regions, like Europe. This species is currently cultivated over the entire world on soils, whose fertility level is far from meeting this crop requirement. Yields are, in general, low, or only on a moderate level, as compared to the potential yield of this crop [2,6,7,8]

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