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Canola
in Rotations
Canola
best follows cereal grains or fallow in rotation. A preferred crop rotation
would have canola planted at least two, preferably three, cropping years between
plantings. However, if planting canola after
one or two cropping years, it is strongly recommended to grow a variety that is
resistant to blackleg. Canola is susceptible to sclerotinia stem rot.
Infection risk increases if canola is planted close in rotation with other
susceptible crops like sunflower, dry edible beans, mustard or crambe. At least
two years should separate canola and sugarbeet plantings. If planting canola
within three years of susceptible crops, a fungicide application may be needed.
Less susceptible crops that could be planted successfully in a close rotation
with canola are rowed soybeans, flax, semi-leafless field pea or lentil.
However, in years when ideal environmental conditions favor air-borne spore
movement, all canola plantings without fungicide applied, regardless of rotation
intervals, may have economic losses due to sclerotinia.
One should also check with your insurance agent and the Risk Management Agency-USDA for certain guidelines and policy on canola planting intervals and multi-peril crop coverage
Canola
is certain to shatter seeds, and volunteer plants are a probability the next
season. Cereals should follow canola to allow the use of certain broadleaf
phenoxy herbicides for control. Production of canola and tame mustard on the
same farm should be avoided. Admixtures of the two crops reduces the market
value of both. In addition, conventional canola should not be planted on fields
with heavy infestations of wild mustard. Roundup
Ready, Liberty Resistant and Clearfield canola all could be planted on heavy
infested wild mustard fields.
The persistence of herbicide residue remaining from application to prior growing crops and weeds can injure new canola seedings. These include but are not limited to sulfonylurea, imidazolinone and triazine classes of herbicides. Always refer to the herbicide label information pertaining to crop rotation restrictions following their use. North Dakota Weed Control Guide, Circular W-253, includes information on rotation restrictions for certain crops, including canola following herbicide applications.
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