Need tips on straight cutting argentine canola

[timm]

thanks for the info.what about spraying a fast forward mixture on rr straight cut canola.(liberty &glyphosate)

[gwynplaine]

The Fast Forward probly won't do a whole bunch, on RR canola. There's only like a 1/10 rate of the Liberty, and the glyphosate won't do anything besided perennial weed control.

I'm not really helping you much here, am I? The long and short of it, is the only real, effective, consistant way to speed drydown of canola is to knock it down.

[timm]

persistance always pays off they say.how about a 10$ rate of liberty as compared to reglone.perenials really arent a problem .i really detest swathing,there has to be a better way.i talked to a farmer who grows 2153 LL because of the lodging ,sprays roundup on it then straight cuts,hes been straight cutting canola for 10 yrs.hes even lobbyed seed developers for more natural lodging ability in newer varieties

[gwynplaine]

If it's lodging you're after, even the newer Invigors fall over. I recommend 2663 or 5070... a few days longer maturity, but significantly more yeild. You can manipulate your canopy, as well. Canola height is determined by heat recieved at small stages (prior to rosette). More heat, early, leads to a taller crop (hence, the shortness of fall-seeded canola). Delay your seeding date untill ambient temperatures are higher, and bump your seeding rate a bit to promote a more even, early crop. The plants will grow taller, and lodge more easily... higher cost involved, however, and you run the risk of sacrificing a bit of yield by seeding later.

I'm curious about the farmer you'd talked to who regularly sprays Roundup on his 2153... what has he said, with regards to timing of application, and subsequent effenct on drydown? In my experience, it's too inconsistant, and typical application is made too late in the year to have any real effect on drydown. I'm in the North side of the mid-season zone, however, and am not familiar with results from warmer climates.

Haven't seen the $10 rate of liberty used, timm, so I'm hesitant to speculate. I'd imagine it will desiccate the pods and upper stems somewhat, but I still really can't see it drying the main stems down any significant degree. That may, however, be enough for your purposes... application still has to be made ~1 week prior to harvest, though.

I'm interested in anyone else's thoughts, comments and experience...

[timm]

the farmer is from Mundare Alta.(1 hr east of Vegerville) and combines 10-11 days after application of roundup.i assume crop stage is similar to swathing.they said if left to late there would be more shatter from sprayer tracks.John Mayco from canola council gave me his name.

[mhartman]

In reply to the question about swathed canola tolerating frost better than standing crop: if frost occurs 2-3 days after swathing canola, the green seed problem will be less than in standing crop because the swathing accelerated the drydown probably by 5% or more compared to standing crop. The lower seed moisture content is less affected by ice crystals which injure the enzymes that "degreen" the chlorophyll.
In contrast, if frost occurs the night/morning after swathing, the seed moisture content is still similar to standing crop and thus vulnerability to frost is similar.
This is based on research in the early 1990's where frost cabinets were placed over canola in the field. If the canola was exposed to 2 hours of -3C frost at 10-20% seed color change, then seed chlorophyll was lower only if swathed 48 hours prior. Similarly, if canola was subjected to -7C frost at 30-40% seed color change, swathing had to occur at least 48 hours prior to lower seed chlorophyll.
The maximum rate of chlorophyll degreening occurs with warm temperatures and high seed moisture (35-60%). Remember that canola pods differ in maturity and thus seed moisture content. Thus at an average 20-30% seed moisture content, there is a significant amount of high moisture seed that can still degreen.
The temperature differences between swathed and standing crop is complex. An Alberta Agriculture study some 20 years ago measured differences between swathed and standing cereals. The surface of the swath was about 2 degree C colder than the standing crop at head level. Thus, canola pods near the surface of a swath are more prone to frost damage than the pods within a standing crop canopy. However, pods near the top in a standing crop are the most immature with higher moisture contents and thus most vulnerable to frost damage.