Cost-effective, field-proven strategies to optimize canola

yields

How to optimize canola yield

Emergence # plants per unit area

Flowering # and size of seeds per pod

Vegetative Growth # pods per plant

Grain Yield

Yield. Pretty straightforward, right?

• Everyone is growing 80bu/ac canola!

• The yield potential ofyour canola crop is setthe minute you selectyour hybrid

• What happensthroughout the growingseason impacts what youput in the bin at the endof the year

Impact of Stress on Canola Yield

35

Genetic YieldPotential

Poor Standsand Seedling

Disease

WeedCompetition

NutrientDeficiency

Foliar Disease InsectPressure

Average Yield

Our focus for today…. Simple, cost-effective Wolf Trax strategies to help your canola crop manage stress

Impact of Stress on Canola Yield

35

Genetic Yield Potential Poor Stands andSeedling Disease

Weed Competition Nutrient Deficiency Foliar Disease Insect Pressure Average Yield

Reality #1: Planting early generally means higher yields, BUT requires different management practices

Reality #1 – Early Planting

• Cool, wet soils = slow seedling growth and limited nutrient availability

Source: canolacouncil.org

• To preserve yield potential, you have to overcome the disadvantages of seeding early (cool, wet soils)

Root growth of corn at four weeks after emergence of shoots – less root growth at cool temperatures

Ro

ot

surf

ace

are

a (1

03 )

Soil moisture level (m3/m3)

As soil gets wetter and colder – roots less able to find immobile nutrients. Min till can be worse than conventional till.

Minimum till

Conventional till

(Vyn and Hooker, Field Crops Research 75:123-137)

Disadvantages of seeding early

• Introduces seedling diseases

• Early season nutrient deficiencies?

– Your soil may not be doing a good job of deliveringnutrients to the seedling

So, what can you do?

CONSIDER A SEED-APPLIED NUTRIENT PACKAGE FOR RAPID, EARLY AND EVEN EMERGENCE

Strategy #1

Approx. Cost per Acre = $0.50

Strategy 1: Improve

emergence and early growth to optimize stands

“Stands with plant densities below 40 to 50 plants per square metre (4 to 5 per square foot) are unlikely to achieve the full yield potential...” canolacouncil.org

• Patented, seed-applied fertilizer

– Zinc, Manganese, Iron

• Safely delivers essential nutrients directly to

the seed

– These nutrients can be limiting in cool, wet soils

• Nutrients available as soon as the seed

germinates

• Plants emerge more rapidly and evenly

Rapid, early emergence

PROTINUS-treated seed withstood tough growing conditions better than the check in this canola field. Vermilion, AB June 2011

Rapid, even emergence

PROTINUS-treated canola seed emerged more quickly and evenly compared to the check in this canola field. Nisku, AB June 2011

Benefits of Even Emergence

PROTINUS-treated canola seed resulted in a more even stand compared to the check in this canola field. Moose Jaw, SK July 2011

• Easier to stage herbicide crop protection applications• No laggards acting as “weeds”

Impact of Stress on Canola Yield

35

Genetic Yield Potential Poor Stands andSeedling Disease

Weed Competition Nutrient Deficiency Foliar Disease Insect Pressure Average Yield

Reality #2: Today’s high-performance “racehorse” genetics

mean you need to re-think your feeding strategy

Increasing yield potential

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Average canola yield over time

MB

SK

AB

Increasing yield potential….

• Canola hybrids now have the potential of over60 bu/ac yields –

• … that means crop requirements for more nutrients, and more micronutrients!

What’s NEW with the barrel!

Nutrient deficiencies you haven’t experienced before may become evident

Reducing Nutrient Related Stress When Pushing for Higher Yields

• Not just N, P, K

• Balance needed for cropRight

Source

• Demand and removal

• Soil propertiesRight Rate

• Root uptake

• Foliar uptakeRight Place

• Key growth stage

• Ability to DeliverRight Time

When do you notice symptoms?

• Managers striving for optimal yields aregenerally the first to observe that theirfertilizer plan is “missing something”.

• In many instances, their first indications of Cu,Zn, and B deficiency are crop yields or bushelweights consistently below their expectations

• And when adding more N, P, K and S does not“solve” the problem

Good Old Soil Analysis

• Soil testing is an importantstrategy to understandingyou soil nutrient status

• BUT, soil tests that labs usetoday were developed inthe 1970’s

• They may not be calibratedfor today’s “thoroughbred”hybrids

REVISIT YOUR CROP’S NUTRIENT NEEDS CONSIDER A NEW APPROACH TO FEED TODAY’S “THOROUGHBRED” GENETICS AND OPTIMIZE VEGETATIVE GROWTH

Strategy #2

Your crop = factory

• Job is to collect sunlight and make sugar

• How to make factory run faster, earlier, run longer and produce more

Strategy #2 Consider total nutrient needs for optimum

vegetative growth

“Canola plants convert the sun's energy into materials required for their growth by a process called photosynthesis. Canola crop yields ultimately depend on the ability of the plant to carry on photosynthesis. Photosynthesis must be maximized to achieve high yields.” canolacouncil.org

WHEN do Plants Need a Micronutrient? . . . Timing?

• Answer: Delivery needs to occur BEFORE needed forbiological processes

• Fixing deficiencies or “just-in-time” applications WILLrob yield

• The micronutrient is needed WEEKS before deficiencysymptoms

Historically – only two options to feed micronutrients to your crops

1. Apply an ineffective and sparse soil application with granules

2. Wait until emergence and apply a foliar product

• Neither of these are ideal…

With soil applications, nutrients move naturally from roots to aboveground plant parts as the plant grows

Zn

P P

P P

P

P

But, the issue with soil applied granular micronutrients has been “scarcity”

Zn

With foliar applications, difficult to attain movement from treated foliar to new growth that arises after spraying

Why Choose Wolf Trax?

• If you are thinking of a micronutrientapplication in your canola crop…

THINK

#1 - Innovative PlantActiv™ Formulation

• Wolf Trax DDP Nutrients have been designed foroptimum plant availability

• Chemical Formulation• Dual-Action™ formulation

• Resist Soil Tie-Up

• Physical Formulation• Ideal particle size for uptake

DDP = “Dry Dispersible Powder” Technology

Wolf Trax nutrients offer fast and extended feeding

Containing at least two sources of mineral in each product, Wolf Trax Nutrients and the patented Dual-Action availability offer fast and extended feeding to your crop.

#2 - Innovative EvenCoat™ Technology

• A more efficient application option

• Patented Coating Technology • Each and every fertilizer granule is coated

• Improves distribution in the field

• Use less nutrient to get better uptake

Fertilizer coated with DDP

DDP Nutrients deliver early nutrition

Highly Effective PlantActiv™ formulation

+

Better distribution with EvenCoat™

Technology

=

Earlier delivery of nutrients

153 granules of fertilizer throughout rooting depth, all coated with DDP Micronutrients mean better

root interception (15x5x3 inch soil profile)

2 granules of micronutrient are sparsely distributed and

leave micronutrient fertilization to chance

DDP Coating of 0.9 lb/ac on 150 lb/ac 34-17 dry blend

Typical granular micronutrient at 5

lb/ac

#3 - Wolf Trax DDP’s - FlexUse™ Design

• Wolf Trax DDP nutrients can be applied in a liquid or foliar system

– B, Mn are highly soluble

• Flexibility to feed the crop when it needs it – Maintain the right rate throughout the growing season

Wolf Trax® Innovative Nutrients

– Zinc DDP (62%)

– Copper DDP (57.5%)

– Magnesium DDP (20.0%)

– Manganese DDP (33%)

– Boron DDP (18.5%)

– Iron DDP (47%)

– Calcium DDP (27%)

• CropMix DDP

“Wolf Trax nutrients are unlike any other in the market. They really are in a class of their own.”

Field Results from Wolf Trax • This summer, an early-nutrition

strategy for new canola hybrids was evaluated

1. PROTINUS Seed Application

2. Boron in liquid fertilizer

• Soil not considered Zn, Mn or B deficient

• High pH, high phos

• Early results suggest benefit with early nutrition

Field Results with Wolf Trax DDP

Wolf Trax Zinc, Manganese and Boron applied at planting. Early results show an improvement in seedling growth at 17 DAE.

Field Results with Wolf Trax DDP

Early delivery of Wolf Trax nutrients applied at planting result in several days differences in crop maturity in this canola field. Souris, MB 2011

PROVIDE AN END OF SEASON BORON APPLICATION TO BOOST REPRODUCTION AND ASSIST POD FILL

Strategy #3

Approx. Cost per Acre = $2.00

“B demand is higher during the reproductive stage than vegetative stage. Boron also affects fertilization and seed set by increasing pollen

production and viability.” canolacouncil.org

Strategy 3 Nutrient boost for optimum seed set and

pod fill

Boron (B) – essential for the crop to be able to “glue” cell walls together

• Boron helps the crop make the “mortar” that glues plant cells together!

• Called rhamnogalacturan II or RG-II, it is found in plant cell walls

• Normal plant growth depends on the ability of RG-II strands to cross-link with boron and form a network in the cell wall matrix

Field Results with Wolf Trax DDP

Wolf Trax Boron DDP applied at 4 oz/ac as a foliar at 10% bloom has a positive impact on pod set in canola. Elm Creek, MB July 2013

Yield Results with Wolf Trax DDP

90 95 100 105 110 115 120

Control

Wolf Trax DDP

Impact of Boron DDP Foliar Application on Yield in Canola

Replicated canola trial indicates the positive impact of Boron DDP foliar application in protecting yield. Elm Creek, MB October 2013

Cost-effective, field-proven strategies to optimize protect

canola yield potential