Determining Excess Moisture Effects on Canola
Derrick Chomokovski, Manitoba Agriculture
Laura Grzenda, Manitoba Agriculture
Bifrost Agricultural Sustainability Initiate Committee (BASIC)
Canola is quite susceptible to water logging and shows a yield reduction if exposed to excess moisture in the earlier phase of crop growth. Wet soils cause an oxygen deficiency, which reduces root respiration and growth. This reduces nutrient uptake, and if conditions persist, plants can die or prematurely senesce (Canola Council of Canada). With wet conditions, roots may be shallow and not able to access nutrients once the soils begin to dry. A few days in waterlogged soil can be enough to kill canola plants, and yield loss is certain — although as canola plants age, they tend to be more resilient.
The current study was designed with the objective to determine if canola variety agronomic attributes (maturity and height) and seeding rate can be used to dictate canola yield and performance under excess moisture conditions. Three canola varieties and three seeding rate combinations were evaluated under excess moisture and ideal growing (on tile drainage land) conditions.
Irrigation treatment had effects on canola growth and yield. This is the first year of trial and it will be repeated again in 2017 with more observations on days to maturity and lodging, etc.