Fall and spring seeding date effects on herbicide-tolerant canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars

More flexible and effective weed control with herbicide-tolerant B. napus canola allows for additional seeding management options, such as fall (dormant) and early spring (ES) seeding. Field experiments were conducted at Lacombe and Beaverlodge (1999-2001), Didsbury (1999-2000), and Lethbridge (2000-2001), Alberta, Canada, primarily to evaluate the effect of fall (late October-November), ES (late April-early May), and normal spring (NS) (ca. mid-May) seeding dates on glufosinate-, glyphosate-, and imidazolinone-tolerant canola development and yield. Fall seeding resulted in 46% lower plant density and nearly double the dockage than spring seeding. ES-seeded canola had 19% higher seed yield and 2.1% higher oil content than fall-seeded canola. ES seeding significantly increased yield compared to fall-seeded canola for 8 of 10 site-years or compared to NS seeding for 4 of 10 site-years; ES-seeded canola equalled the yield of NS-seeded canola for 6 of 10 site-years. Yield response to seeding date did not differ among herbicide-tolerant cultivars. Seeding date did not influence root maggot damage. Seeding canola as soon as possible in spring increases the likelihood of optimizing canola yield and quality compared to fall seeding and traditional spring seeding dates.