Determination of Canola Stands by Hoop Method

Established stands of canola are important to growers for both yield potential and weed competition. Minimum stands (plant populations) of 3-4 plants per sq. ft. are needed to obtain good yield potential. As ideal stand should be 8-12 plants per sq. ft.

An easy method to determine canola plant stands is the "hoop or circle" method. Use of a "hula hoop" or making one with a stiff wire or rod would also work. The area of a circle can be calculated:

Below are some calculated examples:

When checking fields, toss the hoop at 10-12 sampling sites while scouting a field. Sample representative areas and stands throughout the field. Count the number of plants within the hoop at each throw and record. Average the number of plants found over the samples counted. To determine canola plant stands:

example: 34 inch hoop with 44 plants avg./hoop count

Number of plants per Acre: 7 plants x 43,560 sq. ft./A = 304,920 plants/A

If plant populations are 2 or less per sq. ft. then one should carefully scrutinize the stand. Is the sparse stand fairly uniform throughout the field. If this is true it perhaps can be left to grow, branch and compensate for the low populations. Other factors to consider would be weed control and competition with weeds, reseeding risks of planting late and hitting hot weather during bloom stage, seed and replanting costs, chemicals and possible herbicide residues for other crop choices.