Increasing yield and profit by straight-cutting canola

Abstract

Straight combining canola (Brassica napus) can save producers time, fuel costs, and equipment wear. Research was undertaken at three locations to determine if straight combining shatter losses would be reduced sufficiently with higher yield potential to make straight combining viable in western Canada. This research employed a randomized complete block design. Treatments included crop density (low and high), fertility (low and high), time of weed removal (early and late), and harvest time (early and late). Factors were selected to offer a range of yields to evaluate the relationship between potential yield and shatter loss. Overall, factors causing shatter loss and crop yield differed between locations. Not surprisingly, crop density was affected by target crop density and percent green seed was affected by harvest timing.