2015 Statewide Canola Trials

Note: A PDF version of this report can be downloaded by clicking this link.

Project Leaders:

Brooke Bohannon, Research Associate, NWARC, Kalispell
Bob Stougaard, Professor of Agronomy, NWARC, Kalispell

Project Personnel:

Chengci Chen, Professor of Cropping Systems, CARC, Moccasin
Yesuf Mohammed, Research Associate, CARC, Moccasin
Peggy Lamb, Research Scientist, NARC, Havre
Angela Sebelius, Research Associate, NARC, Havre
Ken Kephart, Professor of Agronomy, SARC, Huntley
Kelli Maxwell, Research Associate, SARC, Huntley
Gadi VP Reddy, Associate Professor of Entomology, WTARC, Conrad
John H. Miller, Research Associate, WTARC, Conrad

Table 1. Sponsor contact information for the varieties tested in the 2015 Montana Statewide Spring Canola Variety

Table 2. Summary of climatic data by location for the 2014-2015 crop year (September-August).

32 degrees F considered killing frost.

Introduction

Canola acreage in Montana is on the rise, and in 2015 78,000 acres were harvested, yielding 132,600,000 lbs. Currently, Montana is ranked third nationally, behind North Dakota and Oklahoma for the number of acres harvested. This report summarizes canola performance from five Montana Agricultural Research Centers and is presented in table form. It is advised to pay special attention to the results of those trials grown with similar practices and environments to your own. In addition to location, it is important to review variety performance over time.

Objective

The objective of the Montana Statewide Spring Canola Variety Trial is to evaluate the agronomic performance of available canola varieties and breeding lines submitted by commercial and university entities at five research locations throughout the state. The information obtained from these trials is intended to provide canola growers in Montana with reliable, unbiased information regarding which canola varieties are best suited to their specific production environment.

Procedures

In 2015, sixteen spring canola varieties (Brassica napus) and four seed treatments applied to one variety (HyClass 930) were submitted by seven sponsors (Table 1). The seed was distributed to five agricultural research centers: Northern (Havre), Northwestern (Kalispell), Central (Moccasin), Southern (Huntley), and Western Triangle (Conrad), for testing during the 2015 growing season (Figure 1). 

Test protocol and management guidelines were provided to personnel at each location. Seeding rates were calculated using the following formula: (10 plants per sqft x TKW x 9.6) / 70 % survival. The entries were replicated four times using a randomized complete block design.

Seeding date, field crop history, tillage, fertility program, pesticide application, and harvest date are presented for each location.

Data was collected on: number of plants per square foot, date of 50 percent flower, plant height, percent shatter and lodging (visually estimated on a score from 0 to 100 with 0 equal to none and 100 equal to completely shattered or lodged), yield, percent oil, and test weight.

The variety data are presented by location in tables 7 through 14. The Green and Grow seed treatment data by location are presented in tables 15 through 20. The Least Significant Difference (LSD) values are presented for making pairwise comparisons between treatment means (varieties). If the difference between two treatment values within a column does not exceed the LSD value, it means that the entries are statistically equal for that particular response variable. If the difference exceeds the LSD value, then the entries are statistically different for that particular response variable. When using the LSD values to make pairwise comparison of treatment means, it is recommended to do so only if the probability values for treatment is less than 5% (Pr>F=0.05). This is referred to as “Fisher’s” protected LSD. Using a probability level of 5 percent means that there is a 5 percent probability that the treatment differences are not statistically significant. Or stated another way, there is a 95 percent probability that the treatment differences are statistically significant. A large coefficient of variation (CV) indicates a large amount of variation that could not be attributed to differences in the varieties. 

The following results and summaries are for informational purposes only. The presentation of data for the entries evaluated does not imply approval or endorsement by MSU-MAES.

Statewide summaries of variety, yield, and oil content are presented in Tables 3 through 6 and the Green and Grow seed treatment summaries are in tables 15 and 16.

Results and Summary

Northern Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Havre

Dry conditions at seeding resulted in low stand densities with an average of 4.7 plants/sqft. Yields averaged 22.8 bu/A and ranged from 12.2 to 31.8 bu/A (Table 7), with one variety yielding statistically equivalent to the highest yielding variety ‘G28101’. Test weight averaged 53.4 lb/bu and oil content averaged 40.1 percent.

The Green and Grow seed treatments had no effect on any of the measured response variables (Table 17).

Northwestern Agricultural Research Center (NWARC), Kalispell

Despite the unseasonably low amount of precipitation at seeding, the achieved plant density exceeded the targeted population with an average of 15.5 plants/sqft. Yields averaged 61.3 bu/A and ranged from 43.2 to 72.9 bu/A. Eleven varieties yielded statistically equivalent to the highest yielding variety, ‘InVigor 5440’. Test weight averaged 51.0 lb/bu and oil content averaged 50.4 percent (Table 9). The Green and Grow seed treatments had a significant effect on plant density. The AGR200 afforded 17.0 plants/sqft (Table 18).

Central Agricultural Research Center (CARC), Moccasin

Hot and dry conditions resulted in reduced stand establishment and low yields at Moccasin. The average plant density was 4.5 plants/sqft. Yields averaged 7.9 bu/A and ranged from 5.4 to 9.8 bu/A. Eight varieties yielded statistically equivalent to the highest yielding variety, ‘InVigor L252’. Average test weight and oil content were 48.9 lb/bu and 44.1 percent, respectively (Table 11).

No significant differences were observed with the Green and Grow seed treatments, (Table 19).

Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center (WTARC), Conrad

Plant density averaged 5.2 plants/sqft. Yields averaged 15.0 bu/A and ranged from 9.2 to 21.7 bu/A (Table 13). However, no significant differences were observed for yield. Test weight averaged 50.8 lb/bu and oil content averaged 40.0 percent.

The Green and Grow seed treatments did have a significant effect on test weight. AGR100 treatment afforded a test weight of 52.9 lb/bu (Table 20).

Southern Agricultural Research Center (SARC), Huntley

Southern research center experienced unfavorable weather conditions, resulting in the abandonment of this trial location.

Future Plans

With global canola demand and Montana acreage increasing, coupled with continued support from the canola industry and research center personnel, multi-location canola evaluations will continue in 2016.

Table 3. Yield (bu/A) summary from the Montana statewide spring canola variety trial - 2015

Table 4. Yield (bu/A) summary 2012 - 2015 from the Montana statewide spring canola variety trial

Table 5. Percent oil content summary from the Montana statewide spring canola variety trial - 2015

Table 6. Percent oil content 2012 - 2015 from the Montana statewide spring canola variety trial

Management Information: 2015 Montana Statewide Canola Variety Trial, Northern Agricultural Research Center, Havre

Table 7. Agronomic data from the statewide canola variety trial, Havre, MT - 2015

PLNT: plant; FLWR: 50% flowering; HT: height; LOD: lodging; SHTTR: shatter; YLD: yield; TWT: test weight; ns: nonsignificant

¹Adjusted to 8% moisture.

Table 8. Canola yield (bu/A) summary 2013 - 2015, Havre, MT

Management Information: 2015 Montana Statewide Canola Variety Trial, Northwestern Agricultural Research Center, Kalispell

Table 9. Agronomic data from the statewide canola variety trial, Kalispell, MT - 2015

PLNT: plant; FLWR: 50% flowering; HT: height; LOD: lodging; SHTTR: shatter; YLD: yield; TWT: test weight; ns: nonsignificant

¹Adjusted to 8% moisture.

Table 10. Canola yield (bu/A) summary 2013 - 2015, Kalispell, MT

Management Information: 2015 Montana Statewide Canola Variety Trial, Central Agricultural Research Center, Moccasin

Table 11. Agronomic data from the statewide canola variety trial, Moccassin, MT - 2015

PLNT: plant; FLWR: 50% flowering; HT: height; LOD: lodging; SHTTR: shatter; YLD: yield; TWT: test weight; ns: nonsignificant

¹Adjusted to 8% moisture.

Table 12. Canola yield (bu/A) summary 2013 - 2015, Moccasin, MT

Management Information: 2015 Montana Statewide Canola Variety Trial, Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center, Conrad

Table 13. Agronomic data from the statewide canola variety trial, Conrad, MT - 2015

PLNT: plant; FLWR: 50% flowering; HT: height; LOD: lodging; SHTTR: shatter; YLD: yield; TWT: test weight; ns: nonsignificant

¹Reported as was at harvest.

²Adjusted to 8% moisture.

Lodging and shatter not reported.

Table 14. Canola yield (bu/A) summary 2013 - 2015, Conrad, MT

Table 15. Yield (bu/A) summary from the Montana statewide Green and Grow spring canola seed treatment trial - 2015

AGR: Agriplier seed treatment; ns: nonsignificant

Table 16. Percent oil content summary from the Montana statewide Green and Grow spring canola seed treatment trial - 2015

AGR: Agriplier seed treatment; ns: nonsignificant

Table 17. Agronomic data from the statewide Green and Grow seed treatment trial, Havre, MT - 2015

PLNT: plant; FLWR: 50% flowering; HT: height; LOD: lodging; SHTTR: shatter; YLD: yield; TWT: test weight; ns: nonsignificant

¹Adjusted to 8% moisture.

Table 18. Agronomic data from the statewide Green and Grow seed Treatment Trial, Kalispell, MT - 2015

PLNT: plant; FLWR: 50% flowering; HT: height; LOD: lodging; SHTTR: shatter; YLD: yield; TWT: test weight; ns: nonsignificant

¹Adjusted to 8% moisture.

Table 19. Agronomic data from the statewide Green and Grow seed treatment trial, Moccassin, MT - 2015

PLNT: plant; FLWR: 50% flowering; HT: height; LOD: lodging; SHTTR: shatter; YLD: yield; TWT: test weight; ns: nonsignificant

¹Adjusted to 8% moisture.

Table 20. Agronomic data from the statewide Green and Grow seed treatment trial, Conrad, MT - 2015

PLNT: plant; FLWR: 50% flowering; HT: height; LOD: lodging; SHTTR: shatter; YLD: yield; TWT: test weight; ns: nonsignificant

¹Reported as was at harvest.

²Adjusted to 8% moisture.