Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-4rdrl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-02T03:18:59.931Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Factors affecting growth and yield of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus), 1985–89

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. E. Leach
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Arable Crops Research, Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2JQ, UK
R. J. Darby
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Arable Crops Research, Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2JQ, UK
I. H. Williams
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Arable Crops Research, Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2JQ, UK
B. D. L. Fitt
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Arable Crops Research, Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2JQ, UK
C. J. Rawlinson
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Arable Crops Research, Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2JQ, UK

Summary

Effects of agronomic factors on yield of winter oilseed rape were examined in multifactorial experiments, with a single-low (low erucic acid, high glucosinolate) cultivar (Bienvenu) in 1984/85 to 1987/88 and a double-low (low erucic acid, low glucosinolate) cultivar (Ariana) in 1986/87 to 1988/89. Establishment of September-sown plots was better than that of August-sown plots in 1984, 1987 and 1988, but not in 1985 when September was very dry. The total dry matter (DM) (kg/ha) of August-sown plots was much greater than that of September-sown plots throughout autumn and winter but by harvest the plant DM of late-sown plots was slightly greater. Combine-harvested yields of late-sown plots were greater than those of early-sown plots in 1984/85 (cv. Bienvenu) but not in 1988/89 (cv. Ariana); effects of sowing date on yields were smaller in other seasons, although late-sown plots generally had larger yields. Insecticide treatments increased combine-harvested yields in 1987/88 (cv. Bienvenu) and 1988/89 (cv. Ariana) and increased hand-harvested yields in 1984/85, by increasing the number of plants/m2. Fungicide spray treatments increased yields in all years except 1989, by increasing 1000-seed weights. Application of growth regulator sprays increased yields in 1986/87 to 1988/89; effects on cv. Ariana were associated with increased numbers of pods/plant. There were no consistent effects of spring nitrogen rates or timing on yield or yield components.

Type
Crops and Soils
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Addiscott, T. M., Whitmore, A. P. & Powlson, D. S. (1991). Farming, Fertilizers and the Nitrate Problem. Wallingford: CAB International.Google Scholar
Daniels, R. W. & Scarisbrick, D. H. (1986). Plant growth regulators for oilseed rape. In Oilseed Rape (Eds Scarisbrick, D. H. & Daniels, R.W.), pp. 176194. London: Collins.Google Scholar
Doughty, K. J., Porter, A. J. R., Morton, A. M., Kiddle, G., Bock, C. H. & Wallsgrove, R. (1991). Variation in the glucosinolate content of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) leaves. II. Response to infection by Alternaria brassicae (Berk.) Sacc. Annals of Applied Biology 118, 469477.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harris, R. I., Scott, G. C. & Bush, M. N. (1989). Prochloraz – a flexible fungicide for broad-spectrum disease control in oilseed rape. Aspects of Applied Biology 23, 465470.Google Scholar
Jenkins, P. D. & Leitch, M. H. (1986). Effects of sowing date on the growth and yield of winter oil-seed rape (Brassica napus). Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 107, 405420.Google Scholar
Mithen, R. F., Lewis, B. G. & Fenwick, G. R. (1986). In vitro activity of glucosinolates and their products against Leptosphaeria maculans. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 87, 433440.Google Scholar
Newman, P. L. (1984). The effects of insect larval damage upon the incidence of canker in winter oilseed rape. In Proceedings of the British Crop Protection Conference – Pests and Diseases – 1984, Volume 2, pp. 815822. Croydon: British Crop Protection Council.Google Scholar
Prew, R. D., Church, B. M., Dewar, A. M., Lacey, J., Magan, N., Penny, A., Plumb, R. T., Thorne, G. N., Todd, A. D. & Williams, T. D. (1985). Some factors limiting the growth and yield of winter wheat and their variation in two seasons. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 104, 135162.Google Scholar
Rawlinson, C. J. & Williams, I. H. (1991). Pests, diseases and effects of crop protection on single- and double-low winter rape. Bulletin SROP/WPRS. In Proceedings of the OILB meeting, Rothamsted, UK, March 1990, pp. 7488.Google Scholar
Rawlinson, C. J., Muthyalu, G. & Cayley, G. R. (1984). Fungicide effects on light leaf spot, canker, crop growth and yield of winter oil-seed rape. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 103, 613628.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rawlinson, C. J., Doughty, K. J., Bock, C. H., Church, V. J., Milford, G. F. J. & Fieldsend, J. K. (1989). Diseases and responses to disease and pest control on single- and double-low cultivars of winter oilseed rape. Aspects of Applied Biology 23, 393400.Google Scholar
Scott, R. K., Ogunremi, E. A., Ivins, J. D. & Mendham, N. J. (1973). The effect of sowing date and season on growth and yield of oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 81, 277285.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sylvester-Bradley, R. & Makepeace, R. J. (1985). Revision of a code for stages of development in oilseed rape. Aspects of Applied Biology 10, 395400.Google Scholar
Williams, I. H. (1989). Pest incidence on single-low and double-low oilseed rape cultivars. Aspects of Applied Biology 23, 277286.Google Scholar
Williams, I. H., Doughty, K. J., Bock, C. H. & Rawlinson, C. J. (1991 a). Incidence of pests and diseases and effects of crop protection on double- and single-low winter rape cultivars. In Proceedings of the Eighth International Rapeseed Congress, Saskatoon, Volume 2, pp. 518523.Google Scholar
Williams, I. H., Darby, R. J., Leach, J. E. & Rawlinson, C. J. (1991 b). An analysis of factors affecting yield of winter oilseed rape. Proceedings of the Eighth International Rapeseed Congress, Saskatoon, Volume 2, pp. 612616.Google Scholar