May 23, 2013
Sprouting seeds are vulnerable to flooding/ponding damage as they require oxygen for respiration. The longer it takes for emergence after germination, the greater the chance of stand loss. Saturated soils may also retard or prevent germination because oxygen concentration is too low around the seed. If no germination has occurred, seeds can be cut in half to determine if turgor…
May 23, 2013
The week after seeding is a good time to dig up seeds and seedlings to check for rots and blights. Disease damaged seed and seedlings die quickly, and may be gone within a few days, which is why this timing is important to an accurate diagnosis. For the first 21 days after emergence, scout regularly for flea beetles, cutworms, weeds,…
May 15, 2013
The bottom line for seed-placed fertilizer in canola: 1. Apply plant available sources of nutrients. 2. Place a modest rate of P in the seedrow. At rates over 20 lb./ac., the salt component in MAP, for example, can start to set back seedling survival. 3. Place N and S in a band away from the seed…
May 15, 2013
Growers are still better off seeding 1/2” to 1” deep and waiting for rain rather than trying to chase moisture in fields where the top layer of soil has dried out. The principles of good seed placement still apply. These are…
May 8, 2013
Canola benefits from both early seeding and early weed control. The solution: Work through seeding and spraying operations simultaneously. Have the seeder working when it can. Meanwhile walk fields to get an indication of weed pressure. Fields with large numbers of winter annual and perennial weeds should get a pre-seed burnoff. While spraying that field and waiting 3 days to…
May 8, 2013
Some air drills can cause costly levels of seed damage if the fan speed is too high. Cracked seed will not germinate. Inspect the quality of seed in the tank to make sure the loading auger isn’t causing the damage. Next, use the sock test (watch the video above) to check the state of seed as it exits the opener…
May 1, 2013
Without attention to seeding speed, drill maintenance and other factors that lead to poor seed survival, a canola stand can easily look like this one. A uniform 7 to 10 plants per square foot helps canola meet its yield potential AND mature faster…
May 1, 2013
A pre-seed burnoff will result in higher yields versus no pre-seed burnoff. Seeding can begin fairly soon after a burnoff. For annuals and winter annuals, glyphosate needs only 24 hours to get to the growing point. After a day, the crop can be seeded. For perennial weeds, 3 days should be enough in sunny and warm conditions but 5 days…
May 1, 2013
Yield potential tends to drop off with late May and early June seeding dates. At those seeding dates, it will be important to look at factors that can delay maturity and increase the potential for yield and quality — green seed — losses…
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