Canola seed size for planting?

[furrowtickler]

Plots on right seeded at 5.5 lbs , below 15 bus / ac

Field seeded with planter at 2.2 lbs , 26 bus ac

They target 10/12 plants
We target 5-6
We ended up with 4 after spring frosts

Had near zero regrowth where planter was used , planter canola simply never burnt out as quick .

Plots looked significantly better by June 20th
But by July 15th they were toast .
On an average year there is very little difference.

[furrowtickler]

Difference between seed graded at 1.8 mm and 2 mm is approx 37% more volume in the larger seed, that's very significant. That gives the seed more vigour, energy reserves to compete with insects, weeds. Less seeds per kilo though, wise to increase seeding rate.

Will agree with your assessment on seed size and vigour , also better tolerance to light frosts . Have seen 4 TKW seed nearly wiped out and 6 TKW only loose 10-20% .
We will get 20-22 ac per bag on seed size 5 tkw or less , but with planter accuracy drops the smaller the seed size . Best seems to be 5.5 to 6.5 , above that accuracy stays the same .
Try to target 190,000 in good conditions , up to 220,000 seeds /ac if dry or a bit early .
Range 25 - 15 ac / 25 kg bag depending on seed size and environmental conditions.
Will adjust rates even with bags sold by seed size depending on conditions and / or timing of seeding . Always a bit heavier if before the 15Th of May .
Beetles generally not an issue unless frost has damaged seedlings . But again if using larger seed , flea damage is significantly less due to vigour .
It’s quite a balancing act between seed timing , soil moisture , soil temperature and seed size along with growing conditions the first two weeks after emergence

[TOM4CWB]

Plots on right seeded at 5.5 lbs , below 15 bus / ac

Field seeded with planter at 2.2 lbs , 26 bus ac

They target 10/12 plants
We target 5-6
We ended up with 4 after spring frosts

Had near zero regrowth where planter was used , planter canola simply never burnt out as quick .

Plots looked significantly better by June 20th
But by July 15th they were toast .
On an average year there is very little difference.

Spring frosts of -6c or more can thin stand quickly. Disc seeders are most susceptible to frost damage, plants are not in trench like 'hoe' planters... why we gave up on disc seeders... mortality was twice as much in zero till.

[Guest]

Will agree with your assessment on seed size and vigour , also better tolerance to light frosts . Have seen 4 TKW seed nearly wiped out and 6 TKW only loose 10-20% .
We will get 20-22 ac per bag on seed size 5 tkw or less , but with planter accuracy drops the smaller the seed size . Best seems to be 5.5 to 6.5 , above that accuracy stays the same .
Try to target 190,000 in good conditions , up to 220,000 seeds /ac if dry or a bit early .
Range 25 - 15 ac / 25 kg bag depending on seed size and environmental conditions.
Will adjust rates even with bags sold by seed size depending on conditions and / or timing of seeding . Always a bit heavier if before the 15Th of May .
Beetles generally not an issue unless frost has damaged seedlings . But again if using larger seed , flea damage is significantly less due to vigour .
It’s quite a balancing act between seed timing , soil moisture , soil temperature and seed size along with growing conditions the first two weeks after emergence

You're obviously way ahead of the game with the planter. What do you make of this volunteer plant though. Pic taken mid June south coast near Esperance. No fert, no insecticide, no fungicide, no herbicides.

[furrowtickler]

Spring frosts of -6c or more can thin stand quickly. Disc seeders are most susceptible to frost damage, plants are not in trench like 'hoe' planters... why we gave up on disc seeders... mortality was twice as much in zero till.

Yup that is a concern , that’s why a blackened seed row is important, something you can’t get with a disc drill or precision placement. Both make a huge difference. In a total zero till situation you are right . We’ve seen that as well . One of the reasons we went to a coulter harrow to manage crop residue better and leave the soil slightly blacker .
Also very low seed row toxicity with just Alpine in seed row . Makes huge difference for survivability . Next to zero salt load in or near seed row. Helps keep plant sugar levels higher lowering frost damage as wel

[Guest]

Oops forgot to attach this

[furrowtickler]

Oops forgot to attach this

Yup see that lots around bins , shops and sheds
But also out in the fields where individual plants have space to grow .
I have seen plants as big or even twice that size when scouting fields where a planter and or seeder has not turned on fast enough on headlands or in wet areas where other plants have drowned out but a few made er. Nothing most of us have not seen before .

[furrowtickler]

Here is an example of stubble from canola planted at 2 lbs and canola seeded at 5 lbs .. tells the same kinda story ..

5 lbs with seed drill


2 lbs with planter

What do you think the plants looked like during peak growing season ?
I know , I have seen the difference for over 5 years , every year . And also when using a planter and PP , fungicide use has been near zero . Healthier plants and air movement reduces plant disease dramatically. Disease starts with spindly plants the vast majority of the time . Why ? Because spindly plants have lower sugar levels right from the get go .
Seen this in peas seeded with planter as well , low areas that generally fall down from disease pressure are nearly non existent when planted on 15 in rows and 1.5 bus / ac rate . But that just common sense . Is it applicable on every farm in every climate zone .. probably not .

[poorboy]

How are guys using planters for canola getting their fertilizer on?

If a second pass, that would burn up the savings on lowers seed rates pretty quick.

[furrowtickler]

How are guys using planters for canola getting their fertilizer on?

If a second pass, that would burn up the savings on lowers seed rates pretty quick.

With todays fuel costs that is a concern for sure now. We put on just liquid phos with our current set up
Savings on seed is only part of it. The planter is very efficient at seeding time and a 40 ft machine can cover the same ac/hr as a 75ft drill with far less fuel costs. Fungicide in canola for the most part here is not necessary. Emergence is fast and seedlings are more robust due to no salt in seed row, and they do seem to withstand frost and beetles better.
We have done NH3 in the fall, floated N on in the fall, early spring or after planting. We have also streamed 28-0-0 on , 1/2 before seeding and 1/2 after. We have streamed 28-0-0 on late in fall as well. end of the day they all work , some applications not as ideal as others but when doing tissue samples in late June, and yield comparisons there seems to be very little difference in any application.
Top dressing can also be done in a wide window for a further top up of 20-40 lbs N if conditions allow or more is required after a tissue sample.
going forward now with the high cost of fuel and N we may have to rethink the whole planter idea , time will tell. Planters do require more maintenance than a hoe drill as well. Has worked well for us but by no means the end all be all.

We moved to Bio-sul 5 years ago for our S source on most fields.

[blackpowder]

More canola info on this thread than in any glossy mag.

[beaverdam]

More canola info on this thread than in any glossy mag.

Yup, great to read the discussion.

Seems some will be seekin' large seed, others are fine with smaller seed, then there's myself, who'll be trying for 50lb bags, I'm accustomed to.