Canola Production Research in Virginia

1
Canola Production Research in Virginia David E.
Starner, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University, Orange, VA, Harbans L.
Bhardwaj, Agricultural Research Station, Virginia
State University, Petersburg, VA.

• BACKGROUND
• The canola research in Virginia began in mid
  1980s at Orange, Virginia.
• In 1992, Virginia State University, and Virginia
  Polytechnic Institute and State University
  (Virginia Tech) initiated a cooperative effort
  to develop canola as an alternate winter crop for
  Virginia farmers.
• Since 1994, this effort has been undertaken
  mostly with the funding support from USDA-CSREES,
  National Canola Research Program-Mid West Region
  that is administered by Southern Illinois
  University.
• The canola research in Virginia is conducted at
  three locations Northern Piedmont Agricultural
  Research and Extension Center (Virginia Tech),
  Orange, Virginia 22960 (Dave Starner) Randolph
  Farm of Virginia State University, Petersburg,
  Virginia 23806 (Harbans Bhardwaj) and Tidewater
  Agricultural Research and Extension Center
  (Virginia Tech), Suffolk, Virginia 23834 (Harbans
  Bhardwaj).
• We are interested in developing canola as an
  alternate cash crop in Virginia to diversify
  cropping system and to enhance agricultural
  economy.

Table 4. N rate, seeding rate, and planting date
effects on canola performance at Orange, Virginia
during 1994-95. N Rates Seed Yieldx Oil Omega-6 O
mega-3 MUFA PUFA Sat UnSat 0
kg/ha 2448 35.4 31.2 7.3 56.9 38.4 4.7 95.3 56
kg/ha 2673 33.2 26.1 6.9 62.2 33.0 4.8 95.2
112 kg/ha 2516 37.4 24.4 9.8 61.0 34.1 4.8 95
.2 168 kg/ha 2202 37.8 34.2 8.5 51.2 42.7 6.1
93.9 224 kg/ha 2259 36.1 27.5 7.3 60.2 34.7 5.
1 94.9 LSD (.05) ns ns ns ns ns ns ns ns Seedi
ng rates 4.5 kg/ha 3031 36.2 27.4 7.9 58.1 3
5.2 6.6 93.4 9.0 kg/ha 3436 36.2 30.5 8.1 54.
3 38.5 7.1 92.9 13.5 kg/ha 3823 36.7 28.8 8.6
55.7 37.3 7.0 93.0 LSD (.05)
304 ns ns ns ns ns ns ns Planting
dates September 13 2530 35.8 32.4 9.4 52.6 41.
9 5.5 94.5 September 28 2433 32.8 33.0 8.2 53.4
41.1 5.5 94.5 October 7 1651 32.7 33.1 9.8 51
.5 42.9 5.7 94.3 LSD (.05) 276
2.9 ns ns ns ns ns ns x Seed yield as kg/ha,
oil as percent of seed dry weight basis, fatty
acids as percentage of total fatty acids in
the oil, MUFAMono-unsaturated PUFAPoly-unsaturat
ed, SatSaturated, and UnSatUnSaturated fatty
acids.

• OBJECTIVES
• Our objectives are to develop a canola production
  system for Virginia by determining optimal
  seeding rates, planting dates, row spacing, and
  fertilizer rates.

Table 5. Seed yield following ultra-hjgh levels
of N, P, and K were used at Petersburg, VA
(2004-05) N Rate Seed Yield P Rate Seed
Yield K Rate Seed Yield 112 kg/ha 2065
kg/ha 112 kg/ha 2669 112 kg/ha 2695 kg/ha 224
kg/ha 3024 kg/ha 224 kg/ha 2934 224 kg/ha 2754
kg/ha 336 kg/ha 3069 kg/ha 336 kg/ha 2556 336
kg/ha 2709 kg/ha LSD (.05) 604 kg/ha LSD
(.05) ns LSD (.05) ns P as P2O5 and K as K2O

• METHODOLOGY
• Replicated experiments to identify optimal
  seeding rates.
• Replicated experiments to identify optimal time
  of planting.
• Replicated field experiments to identify optimal
  rates of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, boron,
  and sulfur fertilizers.
• Replicated field experiments to identify optimal
  between row-spacings.

Table 6. Row spacing effects on canola
performance at Petersburg, VA (2000-01 and
2001-02 crop seasons). Row Spacing SY Oil Omega-6
Omega-3 MUFA PUFA Sat UnSat 15
cm 3681 37.6 19.7 9.2 63.1 28.9 8.0 92.0 30
cm 3471 37.7 19.1 8.6 63.8 27.6 8.6 91.4 45
cm 2829 38.0 19.5 8.8 63.3 28.2 8.4 91.6 60
cm 3393 38.8 19.5 9.0 63.4 28.5 8.1 91.9 75
cm 2929 38.4 19.9 9.1 62.9 29.0 8.1 91.9 90
cm 2840 38.2 19.4 8.9 63.2 28.3 8.5 91.5 LSD
(..05) ns ns ns ns ns ns ns ns See Table 4
(above) for abbreviations.
RESULTS Table 1. Seeding rates effect on canola
seed yield during 2004-05 crop season at Orange
and Petersburg, VA Orange Seed Rate Orange Seed
Yield Petersburg Seed Rate Petersburg Seed
Yield 4.5 kg/ha 3286 kg/ha 4.5 kg/ha 1989
kg/ha 9.0 kg/ha 2759 kg/ha 9.0 kg/ha 2384
kg/ha 13.5 kg/ha 3178 kg/ha 13.5 kg/ha 2728
kg/ha LSD(.05) ns 18.0 kg/ha 2977
kg/ha LSD (.05) ns Table 2. Canola seed
yields following five N rates and application
times at Orange during 2004-05 crop season. N
rate Seed Yield Time of N application Seed
Yield S rate Seed Yield 0 kg/ha 3288
kg/ha All in fall 4043 kg/ha 0 kg/ha 3855
kg/ha 56 kg/ha 3592 kg/ha All in spring 2964
kg/ha 30 kg/ha 3945 kg/ha 112 kg/ha 3271
kg/ha Half fall, half spring 2946 kg/ha LSD
(.05) ns 168 kg/ha 3538 kg/ha LSD (.05) 577
kg/ha 224 kg/ha 2897 kg/ha Table 3. Canola
seed yields following P, K, and B rates at Orange
during 2004-05 crop season. P rate Seed
Yield KO rate Seed Yield B rate Seed Yield 0
kg/ha 33 kg/ha 0 kg/ha 2476 kg/ha 0
kg/ha 3836 kg/ha 34 kg/ha 1969 kg/ha 136
kg/ha 2462 kg/ha 9 kg/ha 3964 kg/ha 68
kg/ha 3464 kg/ha LSD (.05) 447 kg/ha LSD
(.05) ns 136 kg/ha 4231 kg/ha LSD (.05) 447
kg/ha P as P2O5 and K as K2O

• Conclusions
• Based on the results presented here and other
  un-published data, a canola production system for
  Virginia consists of
• Planting time Middle of September to early
  October in the Northern Piedmont region, October
  in the Southern Piedmont region, and middle of
  October to early November in the coastal plains
  region of Virginia.
• Seeding rate Five pounds seed per acre (5.6
  kg/ha).
• Fertilizers 100 pounds/acre each of N, P, and
  K per acre (112 kg/ha of each N, P2O5 and K2O).
  Approximately 30 pounds S per acre (34 kg/ha) is
  desirable depending upon the soil pH.
• Row spacing Even though canola can be planted in
  rows varying from 6 to 36 inches (15 to 90 cm) or
  broadcasted, preliminary recommendation is for
  canola to be planted in rows varying from 6 to 24
  inches. Experiments after 2001-02 crop season
  have indicated reduced yield following 36 inch
  rows over 6 to 30-inch rows.