Fertility practices can affect results of canola variety performance trials (December 19, 2005)

Winnipeg, December 19, 2005: Yield numbers in crop variety performance trials can definitely help growers choose suitable canola varieties for their farms but David Blais, Canola Council of Canada agronomist in northwestern Saskatchewan, says it’s not quite that straightforward.


Blais is advising growers to “dig a little deeper” into the fertility regimes of each trial.


Blais says there are two types of regimes that can be used in crop variety trials – high input or typical input. Producers need to match the trial regime with their own approach to fertilizer application.


“Trials that used high input fertility allow high-yielding cultivars to maximize their yield under good growing conditions – so the trends may not be relevant if a producer typically restricts fertilizer use on his farm,” Blais says.


With a typical input regime, however, Blais says “the trends are relevant to most growers and most years”. He adds that it’s also important to remember that the yield advantages of some varieties in seasons with above average growing conditions may not be captured.


Blais says other variables that producers should take into account when analyzing trial data include trial size, sources of data, trial co-operators, geographical data, statistical deviation and herbicide use.


The Canola Council of Canada, with sponsorship support from Pioneer Hi-Bred Ltd., is focusing on helping growers understand the benefits and limitations of canola variety performance trials.


For more information, contact:


David Blais
Canola Council of Canada
Ph: (306) 895-2122
blaisd@canola-council.org