Early plant counts help measure the success of canola plant establishment. Multiple counts averaged across a field will give an average plant density for that field. Research has shown that targeting a plant population of 5-7 plants/square ft can help optimize your yield, performance and consistency. Calibrating your seeding rate based on Thousand Kernal Weight (TKW) and adjusting for survivability, can help ensure that every plant counts at harvest. Higher plant populations tend to produce taller, thinner canola plants that are less productive. Plants in an over-populated stand may also be more susceptible to the negative impacts of heat stress and low moisture. When the plant population is too low, it is slower to fill in and allows weeds a greater opportunity to establish. With soil bare longer, this also increases evaporation of soil moisture.
|
Low plant population |
Ideal plant population |
>High plant population |
Photo credit: BASF
Benefits of a targeted plant population of 5 to 7 plants/ft2
- Optimization of seedbed
- Most efficient use of resources; moisture, sunlight, nutrients
- Improved lodging resistance and lower sclerotinia cases
- Even maturity and uniform plants
- Improved weed control
