Determining the economic plant density in canola

Researcher:

Dr. Steve Shirtliffe, Department of Plant Science, University of Saskatchewan

Project Code:

CARP 2006-08

Final Report:

December 2009

Summary:

Canola farmers seeking to maximize returns should target populations so that even under adverse conditions they will have more than 50 plants per square metre (5 plants per square foot). Plant populations lower than this will almost always have yield loss. Generally, hybrid canola reaches its maximum yield at lower densities than open pollinated canola, with hybrid canola achieving 90% of its yield at 45 plants per square metre compared to 90 plants per square meter for open pollinated canola.