Major Management Factors Determining Spring and Winter Canola Yield in North America. Issue 1 (1st January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Assefa, Yared; Prasad, P. V. Vara; Foster, Chris; Wright, Yancy; Young, Steven; Bradley, Pauley; Stamm, Michael; Ciampitti, Ignacio A.
• Is Part Of: Crop science. Volume 58:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 16
• Publication Date: 2018-01-01
• Subjects: Crop science -- Periodicals; Cultures -- Périodiques; Cultures de plein champ -- Périodiques; Crop science; Nutzpflanzen; Zeitschrift; Pflanzenbau; Periodicals; 633
• DOI: 10.2135/cropsci2017.02.0079
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0011-183X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Canola ( Brassica napus L. cv. 'Canola') production has both economic and agronomic advantages. The objectives of this review were to summarize the key management factors determining crop productivity and to propose plausible pathways to narrow the gap between actual and potential yield. A synthesis study was conducted on data available from performance trials and by reviewing >100 reports in peer‐reviewed journals, extension publications, and websites. The main outcomes obtained from this synthesis suggested that canola attainable yield could be 4 Mg ha −1 with a potential maximum yield of 7 Mg ha −1 . However, actual average yields in North America region were ∼1.7 Mg ha −1 for the period 2000 to 2014. Available in‐season water, water distribution at critical stages, and nutrient supply (soil plus fertilizer) all contribute to a significant portion of canola yield. Other management factors such as seeding rate, rotation, and cultivar selection substantially affect plant performance. Tillage might have an economic and environmental effect, but overall, the outcome of the meta‐analysis did not show significant effect on yield. The review suggests that water supply, balanced nutrition, early planting (for both winter and spring types) in shallow depth (10–19 mm), high seeding rate (6 kg ha −1 ), and diverse rotation (canola every 3 or 4 yr) are among the best management practices to increase yields. Future lines of research should focus on improving planting operations that diminish early‐season heterogeneity, fine‐tuning optimal seeding rates based on modern varieties at varying yield environments, and searching for compatible hybrids to replant without heterogeneity at harvest.