Effect of time of application and amount of nitrogen fertilizer on seed yield and concentration of oil in canola (Brassica napus)

The seed (grain) yield increases (responses) and concentration of oil in seed responses of canola (Brassica napus L.) to applications of fertilizer nitrogen (N), as urea (46% N), was measured in eight field experiments in south-western Australia (SWA). Nitrogen was applied at five different times of application, either at sowing or at three to four weekly intervals until 12–16 weeks (0, 3, 6, 9, 12 or 0, 4, 8, 12, 16) after seedling emergence. Canola, sown in late May to early June, was grown on a range of soil types in different locations of SWA. The greater the amount of N applied and the closer N was applied to the sowing of the canola seed usually gave the largest seed yield increase at both higher rainfall sites (> 500 mm) and lower rainfall sites (<350 mm). Maximum seed yield of canola were reached within nine weeks after seedling emergence. The exception was for a sandy soil (Fluventic Lithic Xerochrept; Brown Tenosol) at Narrogin where applications of N at six, nine, or 12 weeks after emergence gave higher yields compared to N applied earlier mainly due to N leaching in June and July. The amount of N required for 90% of maximum seed (N ₉₀%Y) yield ranged from five to 58 kg N ha ⁻¹ with the amount depended on location and growing season. For six of the eight sites the higher amounts of N for N ₉₀%Y were required at sowing and three weeks after emergence. Similarly, N use efficiency (NUE, kg grain produced kg N applied ⁻¹) tended was highest for either the N applied at sowing or within three to four weeks after emergence of seedlings. The exception was for a sandy soil at Narrogin where applications of N at six, nine, or 12 weeks after emergence gave higher NUE compared to N applied earlier. N use efficiency decreased as the amount of N increased for all times of N application. Generally, the amount of N applied decreased the oil concentration of canola seed at each time of application. However, the effect of the time of application of N fertilizer on the decrease in oil concentration of canola seed was largest with the highest N level applied at 12 or 16 weeks after seedling emergence. The percentage the oil concentrations decreased as the amount of N applied increased varied with location and growing season. Further research work is required to elucidate the interaction between the growing season, possible rainfall and temperature, and the effects of N on grain yield and oil concentration in seed.