Seed as early as soil conditions permit. Canola will germinate and grow at soil temperatures of 2°C, but 10°C is ideal for rapid emergence. Sustained low soil temperatures have a detrimental effect on the seed embryo. Soil conditions and weather forecasts should guide your decision, however, 5°C or higher is a reasonable target for planting. […]
Row Width Ontario spring canola is commonly grown in 19 cm (7.5 in.) spacings. Row widths of 38 cm (15 in.) are also appropriate. Research conducted in Alberta indicates that row closure on 35.5 (14 in) cm row spacings may take a day or so longer than on narrow rows. Yield on 35.5 cm rows […]
Assessing Canola Stands The optimum plant stand is 202,000 to 344,000 plants/ac or 50 to 85 plants/m2 (5 to 8 plants/ft2). At the recommended seeding rate range of 80 to 120 seeds/m2 (320,000 to 485,000 seeds/ac), an emergence rate of approximately 60% will result in acceptable stands. Canola can yield strongly across a wide range […]
Variety Registration For seed to be legally sold in Canada, varieties of Brassica napus (canola and/or oilseed rape) must be registered with the Variety Registration Office under the authority of the Seeds Act. Candidate varieties are tested for certain merit criteria according to guidelines set by the various Canadian canola recommending committees. The Ontario Canola […]
Seed Quality Ensure the seed being planted is of high quality. Germination is the major seed quality consideration used in grading seed lots and certified seed must meet purity and germination standards. Germination standards test the ability of a seed lot to produce normal seedlings under favourable conditions of 95%–100% humidity and 25°C. Stress […]
Cereal rye (Secale cereale), also known as winter rye or rye – and not to be confused with annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) – is a hardy winter cereal that can be established later in the growing season than any other cover crop (Figure 1). It begins growing earlier in spring than other species and has […]
Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a short-lived perennial legume with a long history of use as a green manure in Ontario. It establishes best when underseeded in a small grain crop (Figure 1), and Ontario research has found it to supply up a substantial nitrogen credit to its subsequent crop. Beyond its nitrogen fixation benefits, […]
Oats are a cool season cereal commonly grown as a cover crop either on their own (Figure 1) or as the base of mixtures. They establish quickly, grow rapidly, and typically die over winter. Oats provide benefits in terms of weed suppression, soil structure improvement, and as a harvested or grazed forage. They perform well […]
Learn how cover crops help to maintain soil quality and crop productivity. Introduction Cover crops play an important role in maintaining soil quality and productivity on Ontario farms. Traditionally, they have been associated with reducing soil erosion and adding organic matter to the soil. Indeed, they are very strong in these categories: according to the […]
Reseeding alfalfa following alfalfa is not a recommended crop rotation practice because of autotoxicity, seedling diseases and insect pests that can build up in the old stand. Alfalfa autotoxicity occurs when established alfalfa plants produce toxins that reduce establishment and growth of new alfalfa plants. Autotoxicity can occur when alfalfa is reseeded into an old […]
Hay fields must be driven on to harvest a crop. Unlike haylage systems, where the forage is completely removed a day or two after cutting, dry hay harvest results in a great deal of wheel traffic that often occurs 5 days or more after cutting. Additional traffic activities include raking, baling and bale removal with […]
In a pure stand, seed alfalfa at a rate of 13–22 kg/ha (12–20 lb/acre) of pure live seed. Under excellent management and favourable conditions for establishment, these rates may be reduced up to 25%. When coated seed is used, do not reduce these rates, because coated seed contains fewer seeds per unit weight. Do not […]
The fall rest period (sometimes called “critical fall harvest period”) for alfalfa is 450 growing degree days, base 5°C (where plant development occurs at 5°C or higher), or approximately 6-weeks before the average date of the first killing frost (-4°C for several hours), when alfalfa stops growing. Not cutting during this period allows alfalfa plants […]
The growth stages of the alfalfa plant from germination to full maturity are shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2. The first leaf of the alfalfa plant is unifoliate (a single leaf) occurring above the cotyledons. Subsequent leaves are trifoliate (three leaflets per stem) or multifoliate (more than three leaflets per stem), depending on the […]
Cutting places stress on an alfalfa plant. Consider terminating healthy stands after 9-12 cuts, as they become very susceptible to disease and winterkill. Maintaining alfalfa past this point may not be as economical as terminating the stand, rotating the field into a different crop and establishing a new alfalfa stand elsewhere. Harvest is the most […]