Farm Table says:
Improving harvest management decisions in canola – implications of seed colour change and windrow timing on seed yield and oil concentration
The take home messages from this GRDC funded research are below. Please access the full paper via the link below for methodology, references, acknowledgements and discussion.
Take home messages from the paper include:
- Seed colour change occurs later on the branches of canola plants compared to the primary stem.
- Research examining the partitioning of yield between the primary stem and branches found that branches can contribute up to 80% of total yield.
- Relying solely on seed colour change from the primary stem to determine windrow timing could result in overall seed development being underestimated, potentially impacting seed size, yield potential and oil concentration.
- Results highlight the potential for significant yield and quality penalties associated with early windrow timings, before 40% seed colour change on the primary stem.
- There is potential for yield and oil concentration benefits to be obtained with delayed windrow timings at the upper end of current industry guidelines ≥ 60% seed colour change.
- Given the significance of the proportion of yield contributed by the branches as opposed to the primary stem there appears to be a need to reconsider how windrow timing is determined.
