Canola growers are set to benefit from a wealth of information to be generated from a phenology trial by the Department of Agriculture and Food.
The trial will document the growth cycle of 24 commercial canola varieties, providing growers with valuable data to maximise crop productivity and profitability.
The trial is part of the department’s Tactical Break Crop Agronomy project, supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation.
Plots of conventional, Clearfield, Roundup Ready® and triazine tolerant lines have been established at Woorree, east of Geraldton, and Gibson, north of Esperance, and hand sown at the department’s South Perth site and Mukinbudin.
DAFWA development officer Jackie Bucat said the trial would also assist canola growers with variety selection and crop management options.
“The trial aims to standardise the development information available for these canola varieties and enable us to get a better understanding about these plants,” Ms Bucat said.
“This will support growers’ decision making process about variety selection, as well as management strategies as the season progresses.”
An important part of the trial is to examine the importance of time of sowing.
“The plots were sown at intervals on 15 April, 6 May, 3 June and 1 July,” Ms Bucat said.
“We are particularly interested the relationship between the time of sowing and flowering time.
“This information will help growers select appropriate varieties to optimise the seasonal conditions.”
The research will tie in with other trials in the Tactical Break Crop Agronomy project, including nitrogen applications, seeding rate and wide row spacing.
Visitors are welcome to visit the sites by arrangement with Jackie Bucat via email on jbucat@agric.wa.gov.au [1]
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Media contacts: Megan Broad, media liaison +61 (0) 8 9368 4040