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Studies Show Canola Can be Straight Combined

From 2004 through 2006, there have been a number of small-scale and field-scale studies comparing straight combining canola with traditional methods of swathing and combining.

North Dakota State University Extension Service recommendations for canola are to swath at the optimum stage to reduce green seed and seed shatter losses. The canola swath should be allowed to cure and ripen for a minimum of 10 to 14 days before combining.

""From 2004 through 2006, there have been a number of small-scale and field-scale studies comparing straight combining canola with traditional methods of swathing and combining,"" says Kent McKay, NDSU North Central Research Extension Center area agronomy specialist in Minot. ""The results of this research indicate that canola can be successfully straight combined.""

Combine headers, such as rigid, flex and draper, all performed well with straight combining canola and did not cause any harvest loss, compared with the pickup head.

When harvested at the optimum time, straight combining canola can be successful with equal to or higher yield than traditional harvest methods of swathing and combining. There also is less green seed and generally higher oil content and test weight with straight combining, compared with swathing and combining.

""An important consideration with straight combining is that it is more vulnerable to seed and shatter loss when the harvest is delayed past the optimum,"" McKay says. ""It is very important when straight combining canola to harvest at the optimum time."

The optimum harvest time is identified as the first time the canola moisture content falls below 10 percent. Research trials indicate that seed loss due to shatter increases significantly approximately 10 days after the optimum harvest time was reached with straight combining.

Spodnam and Biovital are polymers that have been developed to reduce the seed shatter loss in pod-bearing crops.

""Spodnam and Biovital were evaluated at many trial locations,"" says McKay. ""There was no difference in yield with the straight combining treatments with and without Spodnam or Biovital when canola was harvested at the optimum time or when harvest was delayed past the optimum."


NDSU Agriculture Communication

Source:Kent McKay, (701) 857-7679, kent.mckay@ndsu.edu
Editor:Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, richard.mattern@ndsu.edu
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