Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

NUTRIENT IMPACTS ON CANOLA (BRASSICA NAPUS I.) GROWTH, YIELD AND SEED QUALITY

EsmaeilYasari and A.M. Patwardhan

Abstract

For investigating the impacts of chemical nutrients on canola (Brassica napus L.) seed yield and quality (oil, protein and nutrients concentration), a split-plot fertilizer application experimental design in 4 replications was carried out during the 2004-2005 growing season, at the Baiecola Agricultural Research Station in the Mazandaran province of Iran. Canola was grown as a second crop in rotation after wheat. Application of N P K together with S, and Zn, singly or in combination, improved the yield and the quality of the seed. The maximum yield (3141.250 kg/h) and oil content (45.83 %) were obtained at Tip (NPK, Zn), coinciding with 203 pods/plant and 120.53 cm plant height. The application of NPK, S at T9 resulted not only in the maximum seed protein (24.25 %) and N concentration in the seed (3.88 %) but also in highest concentration of P (0.257 %), K (1.853 %) and S (130 ppm) in the leaves at flowering. The maximum N concentration happened with NPK at T8(3.85 %) while the maximum Zn concentration obtained with NPKZn at T10(27.17 ppm). The P, K, S and Zn concentrations in the seed were maximum at T7 (0.69 %), T7.10 (0.66 %) T9 • (0 37 %) and at T10(55.03 ppm), respectively, showing substantial improvements over the control.