broadcasting canola

[Ron]

Last year i baled most of my cereals as greenfeed. could i broadcast all my fert and canola seed and heavy harrow it in? In conventional tillage how does broadcast work? Any tips or warnings? Black soil zone, good moisture. (roundup canola, burnoff pre or post seeding?) thanks

[mhartman]

Broadcasting canola seed and fertilizer is a second rate method of seeding and fertilizer placement. Research and my experience shows that broadcasting canola seed averages 5-10% less yield than drilled in seed. However, over the years, I have noticed that broadcast seeding can lead to ugly disasters if the soil is not firm prior to and after broadcasting.
Fertilizer efficiency is compromised with broadcast placement. Nitrogen efficiency will be reduced 0-25% with broadcasting depending on the conditions. I have found that producers tend toward broadcasting if soils are too wet to seed conventionally. However under very wet conditions, broadcast N can easily exceed 25% due to denitrification. Phosphorus rates need to be doubled if broadcasting compared to seed placement to get an equivalent response.

[rookie]

I seed thousands of acres of canola with a floater truck every year. For other people. People still do it and will still do it if canola prices stay up. There are two sides to every story. The lack of equipment or time are two examples. If you are interested in more info , write sometime,

[davidpelletier]

i broadcast about 100 acres of canola every year and i have always had a great yield i cultivate it first then harrow then i broadcast and then i reharrow the field and it has always work