Soil Physical Properties Affecting Canola Growth and Yield in Central Oklahoma.

Soil physical properties affecting canola growth and yield in Central Oklahoma Alexandre S. Barreiro, Silvano L. Abreu, Chad B. Godsey A field study evaluating the effect of soil physical properties on canola growth was evaluated near Perkins, OK in 2008. The objective of this study was to identify if tillage method had any effect on canola root growth. Treatments consisted of a–moldboard plow, 16 bar harrow, no-till, and chisel. Soil penetration resistance, bulk density, soil water curve, and pore size distribution was evaluated and correlated to canola yield. In addition, a green house study was carried out in Stillwater, OK to evaluate the effect of different bulk densities on canola root biomass. No statistical differences in soil bulk density and water retention were observed. However, soils under chisel and no-till had higher values compared to other treatments. Observations from the greenhouse study indicated that when canola plants were grown in a soil with a bulk density greater than 1.3 g cm-1,a lower root biomass was observed. Maximum root growth was observed at 1.3 g cm-1..