United Kingdom
December 3, 2014
Source
The 3x3 initiative is a technical partnership between Yara, BASF and Monsanto aimed at driving a better understanding of the agronomic choices available to meet the economic and environmental challenges in growing oilseed rape.
Yara Crop Nutrition
Yara’s part in this initiative compares two practices across three different varieties, one is looking at a ‘best practice’ situation in order to get the best out of the crop and the other is ‘commercial practice’ as market research has shown that up to 60% of OSR growers don’t apply Autumn nitrogen or micronutrients.
The ‘best practice’ plots received Yara Chafer 20:20:0 at 125 L/ha placed beneath the seeds at drilling. Following soil and foliar analysis various micronutrients have been applied in the autumn including Boron, Molybdenum and Magnesium (YaraVita Brassitrel Pro); with further applications scheduled in the Spring along with NPK and S applications. This comparison is hoping to show the potential yield 60% of growers (who are carrying out ‘commercial practice’) are missing out on and the benefits a good nutritional program can provide.
Initial Results
Plant counts were carried out approximately 6 and 8 weeks after drilling to measure establishment of each of the plots; both placed fertilizer and no fertilizer across the three varieties.
Placed fertiliser vs No fertiliser - cv DK Imiron
Differences were apparent visually at 6 weeks after drilling.
Not only were the plant numbers significantly higher but the plants themselves were at a more advanced growth stage; establishment is key to getting a good yielding OSR crop.
10 weeks after drilling the differences were still visually apparent throughout all plots.
Placed fertiliser vs No fertiliser - cv DK Imiron
Yara ImageIT
Yara ImageIT is a smartphone app which determines both nitrogen uptake and biomass and uses this to calculate a nitrogen recommendation for oilseed rape.
ImageIT, has been used to measure both the nitrogen uptake and biomass in each of the 3x3 plots and there was found to be almost double the nitrogen uptake in the plots with placed nitrogen and significant increases in biomass which could easily be observed visually by the difference in plant size and population.
Tissue and Soil Analysis
Tissue and soil analysis was carried out on both sites. It is important to take both samples as they often show that something low in the plant might not necessarily be low in the soil and vice versa depending on what the plant is requiring at different points in its growth.
Research suggests that a large percentage of UK soils are deficient in sulphur; a major nutrient for OSR. Trial work has shown that a ‘little and often’ approach to sulphur application obtains the higher yield increases; therefore that will be how the ‘best practice’ plots will be treated in the Spring. As well as sulphur, Spring NPKs and micronutrients will be applied.
Initial results
Species
