Effects of Manure Application On Canola Emergence and Early Vigour.

Since canola is a small seeded crop, establishing an adequate and vigorous plant stand can be challenging.  To mitigate this risk, farmers may increase seeding rates to higher than necessary levels.  Management strategies that produce more reliable canola stands are needed. Based on past observations with winter canola at the University of Guelph, manure application may improve early vigor and establishment of canola to a greater extent than can be attributed directly to the manure’s inorganic nutrient content. Trials are underway at the Elora Research Station in Ontario, Canada to determine whether these observations hold true for spring canola.  Main plot treatments include i) a check, a ii) a low rate of liquid dairy manure (LDM), iii) a high rate of LDM, iv) water applied in the same volume as the high rate of LDM, and v) a liquid starter fertilizer with the same volume and N, P, K, S and B content as the high rate of LDM.  All main plot treatments are applied pre-plant and incorporated.  Sub-plot treatments are three seeding rates (normal, low, and very low).  Based on stand counts, in 2011 establishment was very high at 84%, but was not affected by the treatments.  As a measure of stand vigor, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was measured via dual channel reflectance spectroscopy weekly for four weeks beginning two weeks after emergence.  At the lowest seeding rate, NDVI measurements indicated that stand vigor was significantly improved by either LDM or fertilizer application, but not by water application.  Thus, results to date do not support the hypothesis that manure has an effect on early vigor of spring canola that exceeds what can be achieved with a liquid starter fertilizer of similar nutrient content.  Yield data will also be presented.