The impact of crop establishment systems in combination with applied nitrogen management on the establishment, growth and yield of winter oilseed rape in a mild Atlantic climate

Abstract

Winter oilseed rape was established under five cultivation methods in field trials in Ireland between 2013 and 2016. A conventional plough-based cultivation system and a minimum tillage cultivation system were both analysed at 125 mm and 600 mm row spacing. A strip tillage cultivation system at 600 mm row spacing was also analysed. A fixed rate nitrogen application system was compared with two canopy management strategies (using crop green area index as an indicator of required nitrogen application) in both the (conventional) plough 125 mm and the (more novel) strip tillage 600 mm cultivation systems in a factorial arrangement. Establishment methods significantly influenced crop emergence in each year, with results varying between sites. Establishment systems did not significantly affect pod numbers in two of the three sites analysed. Each of the contrasting crop establishment systems gave similar seed yields in each year of this study. There was no significant effect of nitrogen management practices on green area index or seed yield. These results broaden the scope for successful winter oilseed establishment and indicate the potential to utilise the benefits of a reduced cultivation system without significantly impacting on seed yield at harvest.