Can you get away with low populations in Winter Type Canola? Latest Research provides some valuable insights.

As the cropping area of Graze n Grain Winter type canola increases significantly across Australia, (now estimated at 100,000ha) coupled with extraordinary dual purpose gross returns from the grazing and grain components, growers and advisors are seeking information around comparisons of lower plant stands versus traditionally established recommendations of 25 to 40 plants per m².

Lower plant populations in Winter canola types can be experienced in both the MRZ and HRZ canola growing regions due to sowing date related adverse environmental conditions or excess early crop insect or mollusc damage.

New field research by Pacific Seeds provides practical data for growers and agronomists about the agronomic pros and cons of having a significantly lower plant establishment than what is considered desirable. 

Key findings include:

• Winter hybrid canola populations of 25 plants per m² can provide grain yields equivalent to or higher than 40 plants per m² depending on time of sowing and seasonal conditions.
• Plant populations of approximately 4 to 5 plants/m² can still yield between 3t/ha to 4t/ha with early time of sowing, adequate Nitrogen supplied during the season on top of existing soil N availability and GSR values being between 400 to 500mm.
• Low populations below 10 plants per m2 leads to higher weed pressure and basal multi-stem branching of plant architecture so there is a requirement for paddock specific strategic herbicide use, resistance management and harvest logistics to be applied.
• The two highest yielding Winter graze n Grain hybrids across all trials were Hyola Feast CL and Hyola 970CL demonstrating the most consistent yield performance across Australian environments.

Read the full research paper for complete trial data, full findings, results and conclusions.

Top Picture – 2020 Teesdale – Inverleigh Vic – Hyola Winter CL Performance Trials – (L-R) Grower Lachie Morrison with Justin Kudnig, Pacific Seeds

Contact the author: Justin Kudnig, Pacific Seeds, Ph: 0408 408 816 or email: justin.kudnig@advantaseeds.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaptainCanola