Boosting canola crop establishment through collaborative research project
Project name
Reducing risks to canola establishment through an integrated understanding of genetics, management, and environment.
GRDC code
CSP2212-005RTX
Early sowing: risk and reward
Poor establishment of canola is a widespread issue in Australia, leading to problems with weed management, reduced yield potential, and sometimes the need for re-sowing.
While genetic research is ongoing, there is a critical need for a better understanding of the underlying processes affecting canola establishment and for developing effective strategies to mitigate these risks.
A 2022 survey of canola growers and agronomists across Australia identified limited soil moisture, incorrect sowing depth, and soil crusting as the most common causes of poor establishment.
In response to early rainfall, farmers are sowing earlier rather than waiting for traditional sowing times, which presents potential establishment risks but also offers higher yield potentials.
This project, funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), is led by Andrew Fletcher from CSIRO with the team including Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and EPAG Research, Living Farm, Birchip Cropping Group, Brill Ag, AgGrow, Grain Orana Alliance, and Aginnovate.
The main trials in this project are looking to identify the limiting factors to canola establishment, including soil moisture, soil temperature, and sowing depth.
By addressing these factors, the project aims to provide growers with management strategies to improve canola establishment when facing risky seeding conditions.
Additionally, the collected data will be used to test models of canola establishment developed by CSIRO.
In WA, trials are currently being conducted in Geraldton and Merredin, led by Bronte Wackett from DPIRD with the involvement of research scientist Muhammad Javid and technical officer Melanie Kupsch.
2024 Trial Program
The WA work in 2024 includes two main types of trials: Time of Sowing (TOS) trials and Sowing Depth trials.
The TOS trials explore four sowing dates ranging from late March to early May, and three irrigation rates (0mm, 20mm, and 40mm). Irrigation was applied 1-2 days before seeding to simulate different early rainfall events.
The depth trials involve treatments with three sowing depths (1cm, 3cm, and 5cm), two press wheel treatments (with and without), and two wheat stubble treatments (with and without).
Measurements for both trial types include bi-weekly plant emergence counts, gravimetric and volumetric soil moisture measurements, temperature at seeding depth, soil strength measurements, hypocotyl length, and establishment count.
The trials aim to benefit farmers by developing a decision framework to assess conditions for canola seeding and identify risks for poor establishment. This will enable farmers better tools to mitigate these risks effectively.
DPIRD Research Scientist Bronte Wackett said preliminary findings from the WA trials suggest that canola can potentially emerge from greater depths when press wheels are not used, depending on soil type and the type of press wheel.
However, sowing without press wheels can lead to furrow infill and potentially alter target sowing depth.
In the TOS trials, initial findings suggest early sowing is feasible when there is enough moisture in the soil to carry the crop through to the season break.
Interestingly, the results also indicate that adequate establishment can be achieved with early sown canola when there is significant gap until the season break, as long as the seedbed is completely dry.
These results highlight the importance of moisture for seed and seedling survival as well as emergence and establishment.
Data is still being collected on crop establishment and rigorous statistical analysis still needs to be applied to confirm the significance of the observed effects.
Moisture and temperature data will be analysed in conjunction with emergence and establishment to identify critical thresholds for making good sowing decisions.
More information
Click here to read the DPIRD article Canola essentials – growing a successful canola crop
Click here to read the DPIRD article Canola sowing time to maximise yield in Western Australia
Click here to access DPIRD’s Canola Diagnostic tool
Click here to access DPIRD’s Blackleg CM – Blackleg Management app
Click here to access DPIRD’s Canola Seeding Rate calculator
Contact
Bronte Wackett
DPIRD research scientist
E: Bronte.Wackett@dpird.wa.gov.au
P: (08) 9690 2150