Manipulating Agronomic Factors for Optimum Canola Harvest Timing, Productivity, and Crop Sequencing
Research Objective
- Understand how manipulations to sowing density, pod shatter tolerant hybrid maturity rating, and swath/straight-cut timing alter crop yield and quality
- Refining best agronomic practices for optimal swath/straight-cut timing based on several factors
- Determine how manipulating seed density, cultivar selection, and harvest management affect canolas growth of pods and branches
- Provide an economic analysis for low vs. high sowing density systems and straight-cut vs. swathing scenarios
Project Description
The optimal stand threshold requires a lot of inputs and is expensive, but not necessarily most effective. There is a gap of knowledge with understanding how decreasing the optimal stand threshold will affect canola architecture (the canopy, branches, stems, etc.) and harvest method. Therefore, information about how lower threshold actually affect the crop will help farmers with their harvest timing and minimize seed losses. There is also a movement towards straight-cutting canola to decrease harvest time and completely leaving out the swathing step. This study will also look at standardizing which is optimal when the crop is in different stages, and in different ecozones across the Prairies. This project directly addresses priorities under the Canola Industry Research Priorities in relation to swath timing and straight-cutting practices listed under harvest management.