Summary (key messages)
- Pioneer 43Y23 (RR) had higher grain yield, oil yield (kg/ha) and gross margins, than Sturt (TT).
- Grain yield responded to applied nitrogen up to approximately 40kg N/ha.
- Both varieties responded similarly to applied nitrogen with no variety x N rate interaction for grain yield.
- Oil yield and gross margins did not respond to applied nitrogen.
- Timing of nitrogen application did not alter the response to nitrogen of both varieties for grain yield, oil percentage, oil yield or gross margin.
Aim
To investigate the response to changing the nitrogen rate and changing the time of application. Canola yield and oil will be measured and RR hybrids will be compared with open-pollinated TT types (OP TT).
Trial details
- Property: Northern Agri Group site at Ogilvie
- Growing season rainfall (GSR) (April to September): 263mm, long term average (LTA) (from 1974 onward): 275mm.
- Soil type: yellow sandy earth (0.57% organic carbon), estimated to be 58kg N/ha available in paddock from soil and plant residues
- Paddock rotation: wheat 2013, lupin 2012, wheat 2011
- 22 treatments: two cultivars (Sturt TT [TT open-pollinated variety] and Pioneer 43Y23 RR [RR hybrid variety]) x 11 N treatments (kg N/ha) with timing spread between seeding, and up to 12 weeks after sowing (see Table 2)
- Three replicates
- Sowing date: 29 April
- Seeding rate: target density 30 plants/m2 - Sturt TT 2.4kg/ha, Pioneer 43Y23 RR 1.5kg/ha
- Basal fertiliser: 80kg/ha of BigPhos + Mn at seeding, 120kg MOP/ha + 400 Gypsum top-dressed over whole site on 3 June.
| Treatment | Name | Seeding | 8WAS | 12WAS | Total N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nil | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 10N Seeding | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 30N in 8 weeks | 10 | 20 | 0 | 30 |
| 4 | 50N in 8 weeks | 10 | 40 | 0 | 50 |
| 5 | 70N in 8 weeks | 10 | 60 | 0 | 70 |
| 6 | 10N seeding and 20N 12WAS | 10 | 0 | 20 | 30 |
| 7 | 10N seeding and 40N 12WAS | 10 | 0 | 40 | 50 |
| 8 | 10N seeding and 60N 12WAS | 10 | 0 | 60 | 70 |
| 9 | 30N in 8 weeks and 10N 12WAS | 10 | 20 | 10 | 40 |
| 10 | 30N in 8 weeks and 20N 12WAS | 10 | 20 | 20 | 50 |
| 11 | 30N in 8 weeks and 40N 12WAS | 10 | 20 | 40 | 70 |
Assumptions used in gross margins
- Oil bonus +/- 1.5% per unit of oil (%) either side of 42%, with no oil ceiling.
- Additional costs such as seeding, harvest, insecticides assumed to be $229/ha.
- Nitrogen costs $1.33/kg or $1.5/L, application costs $8/ha
- RR costs – seed $76/ha, herbicides $47/ha, grain worth $513/t (five year decile price)
- TT costs – seed $5/ha, herbicides $56/ha, grain worth $535/t
Results
Pioneer 43Y23 (RR) had higher grain yield, oil yield (kg/ha) and gross margins, than Sturt (TT). Both varieties produced similar oil percentages.
| Pioneer 43Y23RR | Sturt | P | LSD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grain yeild (kg/ha) | 1785 | 1127 | <0.01 | 81 |
| Oil % | 43.4 | 44.6 | 0.098 | 1.8 |
| Oil Yield (kg/ha) | 778 | 502 | <0.01 | 30 |
| Gross Margin ($/ha) | 550 | 253 | <0.01 | 19 |
Response to N
Grain yield responded to applied nitrogen up to approximately 40kg N/ha, attaining yields of 1512t/ha. Both varieties responded similarly to applied nitrogen with no variety x N rate interaction for grain yield.Maximum oil percentage was produced at 30kg N/ha.
Oil yield and gross margins did not respond to applied nitrogen.
| N | GY | Oil | GM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1392 | 44.6 | 433 |
| 10 | 1420 | 44.8 | 431 |
| 30 | 1387 | 45.0 | 391 |
| 40 | 1512 | 43.8 | 423 |
| 50 | 1480 | 43.6 | 400 |
| 70 | 1493 | 43.3 | 382 |
| N | - | - | - |
| P | 0.017 | 0.015 | 0.244 |
| LSD | 91 | 1.2 | ns |
| N x variety | - | - | - |
| P | 0.846 | 0.198 | 0.841 |
Timing of nitrogen
Nitrogen was applied at eight or 12 weeks or split between eight and 12 weeks. We found the timing of nitrogen application did not alter the response to nitrogen of both varieties for grain yield, oil percentage, oil yield or gross margin.
Conclusion
RR variety Pioneer 43Y23RR outperformed the TT variety Sturt at Ogilvie in 2014.
While canola growth and yield responded to applied N the scale of the response was insufficient to produce an economic response.
Acknowledgements
This trial (14CH27) is one of a series conducted throughout Western Australia as part of the GRDC/DPIRD co-funded project Tactical Break Crop Agronomy in Western Australia. Thanks to the local RSU for trial management. Stephanie Boyce and Jo Walker provided technical assistance to ensure all treatments and measurements occurred in a timely and accurate fashion.