Digest-Sep2011_Aug22.pdf

IN THE FIELD

PRECISION PLACEMENT PAYS OFF

By Donna Fleury

Want to get the most out of your seed investment? Pay attention to the finer details – that’s what makes you the money.

ptimizing seed emergence and stand establishment is more than a way to maximize yield. It sets up the crop for the rest of the season and can make a difference to how it responds to the potential pressures of pests, frost, moisture and other climate conditions. “In the spring we set ourselves up for what is going to happen for the rest of the year which ultimately affects what and how we harvest, so getting the most out of your seed investment is important,” says Doug Moisey, Canola Council of Canada (CCC) Agronomy Specialist for North-Central Alberta. “Precision placement at seeding is the most important factor for increasing seed survival. Speed is one of many

of eight to 10 plants at 20 days after emergence. The standard recommen- dation is a seeding rate of five pounds per acre, but seed size has to be taken into account. However, if you can achieve the target plant stand at 3.5 pounds per acre because you are going slow, watching soil temperature and precision placing the seed, then go ahead,” says Moisey. Darcy Sarafinchan farms 3,000 acres near Vegreville, Alberta and seeded 1,800 acres of canola this year. “For me, the most important factors include making sure the drill is level, and seeding to a depth of 0.5 to one inch and at a speed of less than five miles per hour,” he says. “Seeding rate is also important

factors – although there is no ideal speed, whatever speed places the seed in a proper manner with seed to soil contact is the best strategy.” Even though canola seed genetics are the best they have ever been, emergence is generally estimated to be 35 to 50 percent (it can be as high as 70 percent). “We cannot determine what emergence will be prior to seeding, so lowering seeding rates is risky,” explains Moisey. “Seed is a safety factor and probably one of the cheapest forms of insurance to a good crop, allowing for issues such as frost, insects and diseases. The recommended seeding rate is an achievable plant population of five to 10 plants per square foot, with a target

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