Research in the Klamath Basin
20 07 Annual Report
Growth, Yield, and Oil Production of Canola Varieties
in Response to Differential Irrigation in the Klamath
Basin, 2007
Richard J. Roseberg, Jim E. Smith, and Rachel A. Shuck1
Introduction
As described in our 2006 annual report, the recent increase in energy prices and
political instability in the Middle East has sparked renewed interest in alternative energy
sources and technologies both locally and nationally. Biodiesel is an appealing
transportation fuel source for many reasons: it readily substitutes for petroleum diesel, it
tends to burn cleaner with fewer pollutants, it can be made from many plant-based oil
sources, and it can be produced on a large or small scale. Biodiesel can be made from
many oilseed crops. However, the most prolific oil producers per acre tend to be tropical
or subtropical crops such as palm oil, castor, and soybean. Some temperate oilseed crops,
such as sunflower, meadowfoam, and flax, have higher value end-uses than biodiesel.
Therefore, much of the research on oilseeds for biodiesel in temperate regions has
focused on rapeseed/canola, and more recently, another oilseed crop called camelina
(Camelina sativa). Please see the separate report of camelina research we conducted in
2007.
Some species in mustard family (Brassicaceae) have been used for centuries as an
oil source for lamp oil, lubricants, and cooking. In recent decades, industrial rapeseed oil
has been produced almost exclusively from two species, Brassica napus and Brassica
rapa. Rapeseed oil is characterized by high levels of erucic acid and glucosinolate
compounds. Erucic acid is not edible, but has good properties for high performance
lubricants, and is thus used for those purposes. Glucosinolates are bioactive compounds
that give the spicy bitterness, or “hotness” to the taste of hot mustards. Canola is defined
as a specific oilseed crop from the mustard family whose seed oil contains less than 2%
erucic acid, and also that the solid component of the seed contains less than 30
micromoles of glucosinolate per gram of solid. Canola was bred in Canada, with the
initial variety released in 1974. The word “canola” was originally a trademarked name
(standing for "CANadian Oil, Low Acid"), but is now a more generic term referring to
brassica plants and their oil that fit the erucic acid and glusosinolate criteria.
Currently, approximately 12 million acres of canola is grown in Canada, the most
of any nation. About 1 million acres are grown annually in the USA, with North Dakota
and Minnesota accounting for over 90% of the US total. Farmers in Washington, Oregon,
1
Associate Professor, Faculty Research Assistant, and Research Technician, respectively, Klamath Basin
Research and Extension Center, Klamath Falls, OR.
Acknowledgements: Seed for these trials was provided by the University of Idaho Brassica Breeding and
Research program and by private seed companies.
Reference to a product or company is for specific information only and does not endorse or recommend
that product or company to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.
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Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center
Growth, Yield, and Oil Production of Canola Varieties in Response
to Differential Irrigation in the Klamath Basin, 2007 Page 47
Research in the Klamath Basin
20 07 Annual Report
and Idaho grow several thousand acres in each state per year. With the recent increase in
energy prices, canola has been tested and grown on a smaller scale in many regions of the
country.
Research Justification & Objectives
We found no evidence of oilseed-to-biodiesel research or commercialization
efforts in the arid south central Oregon plateau, including the Klamath Basin, prior to
2005. Much of this region has irrigation water available, and oilseed crops that are suited
to a cooler climate such as canola, industrial rapeseed, mustards (Sinapsis alba and
Brassica juncea), and camelina seemed to have a possible fit with existing crops such as
potatoes, grass and alfalfa hay, and small grains.
In 2006 we began evaluating canola and related species. In 2007 we continued our
evaluation of canola and related brassicas. The objective of this study was to measure the
growth, seed yield, and oil yield of several public and private varieties of spring-planted
canola grown under two levels of irrigation to determine the general effect of reduced
moisture availability as well as to determine if certain varieties were more tolerant of
moisture stress.
Procedures
The canola variety and irrigation rate trials were conducted at the KBREC
research farm on the mineral soil type (Poe fine sandy loam), on land that had been
planted to spring wheat in 2006. Within each irrigation rate block, the 19 entries were
planted in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Entries included
both named varieties and numbered experimental lines. Entries included seven
conventional canolas, seven Roundup®-Ready canolas, one Clearfield® non-GMO
canola, two yellow mustards, and two industrial rapeseeds. Seed was planted at 0.5 inch
depth. Seeding rates were based on recommendations of researchers at the University of
Idaho and private company professionals, and were as follows: Pacific Gold yellow
mustard was seeded at the rate 5.0 lb/ac; Gem rapeseed and Clearwater canola were
seeded at 7.0 lb/ac, while Idagold yellow mustard, Sterling rapeseed, and all remaining
canola entries were seeded at 8.0 lb/ac. All entries were seeded with a Kincaid (Kincaid
Equipment Manufacturing) plot planter on May 1. The plots were 20 by 4.5 ft, (9 rows at
6-inch spacing), with a harvested area of 14.5 by 4.5 ft. Trifluralin (Treflan®) herbicide
was applied April 27 at 2.0 pint/ac (1.0 lb a.i./ac) pre-plant incorporated with roto-tiller.
No additional herbicides were applied during the season.
All plots were fertilized with 12 lb/acre N, 12 lb/acre P2O5, 12 lb/ac K2O, and 15
lb/acre S banded at planting (applying 12-12-12-15 fertilizer at 100 lb/acre). An
additional 100 lb/acre N was applied as Solution 32 on June 4 through the irrigation
water.
Solid-set sprinklers arranged in a 40- by 40-ft pattern were used for irrigation. The
entire area was irrigated uniformly until plants were fully emerged. Crop water use
estimates from the KBREC Agricultural Meteorological (AgriMet) weather station were
then used to apply irrigation at a rate to meet crop needs for the full growing season in the
“wet” irrigation block. The “dry” irrigation block received about 5/8 the amount of
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Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center
Growth, Yield, and Oil Production of Canola Varieties in Response
to Differential Irrigation in the Klamath Basin, 2007 Page 48
Research in the Klamath Basin
20 07 Annual Report
irrigation applied to the “wet” block after the initial germination period. Precipitation and
irrigation details are shown in Table 1. Plots were swathed with a Swift Mfg. plot swather
on August 17 when approximately 1/3 to 2/3 (varying depending on variety) of the seeds
had turned brown. Seed was harvested from all plots using a Hege (Hans-Ulrich Hege)
plot combine with a 4.5-ft-wide header on August 23.
Data collected included lodging percent, grain yield, test weight, and plant height.
Cleaned seed samples were sent to the Brassica Breeding and Research Lab (Dr. Jack
Brown) at the University of Idaho for seed oil analysis. All measured parameters were
analyzed statistically using SAS® for Windows, Release 9.1 (SAS Institute, Inc.)
software. Treatment significance was based on the F test at the P=0.05 level. If this
analysis indicated significant treatment effects, least significant difference (LSD) values
were calculated based on the student’s t test at the 5 percent level.
Results and Discussion
Soil moisture was good during seedbed preparation, and resulting germination
and stand density were good. Weed pressure was light and did not seem to impact crop
growth. Good availability of irrigation water, lack of frost, and relatively few hot days
during the season (only eight days with maximum temperatures above 90oF, with none
over 100oF), all contributed to good yields in 2007. The higher rate of N fertilizer applied
after emergence in 2007 probably contributed to generally higher yields in 2007
compared to 2006. Harvest occurred later in 2007 compared to 2006 due to slightly later
planting date and observed slower rate of maturation. Lodging was minimal in all trials.
There were significant differences between entries for all five measured parameters for
both irrigation regimes (Tables 2&3).
Wet Treatment Area
Within the wet block, seed yield ranged from 1590 to 3760 lb/ac, with a mean of
2590 lb/ac. This trial mean was greater than the trial mean of 1880 lb/ac in 2006 grown
under similar management (except less N fertilizer was applied in 2006). In the 2007
trial, the experimental numbered canolas all were among the highest-yielding entries, and
the Roundup®-Ready trait did not seem to result in a particular yield advantage or
disadvantage. As in 2006, the seed yield of Idagold mustard was close to the overall trial
mean, whereas Pacific Gold mustard had the lowest seed yield in 2007 (and was among
the lowest in 2006). As in 2006, Idagold yellow mustard had the highest bushel weight in
2007. In 2006, many of the entries with high yield also had high bushel weight, but this
trend was not as clear in 2007. See the KBREC 2006 annual report to make further
comparisons between years.
The 2007 entries tended to be taller than their 2006 counterparts, and the overall
trial mean was nearly 9 inches taller in 2007. The percent flowering data was not
collected in 2007, but visually it was clear that the two yellow mustards clearly reached
maturity sooner than the canolas and rapeseed, although there was quite a range in
maturity amongst the canola types. In this climate where the length of growing season is
limited, an early-maturing variety could be an advantage if yield is not limiting.
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Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center
Growth, Yield, and Oil Production of Canola Varieties in Response
to Differential Irrigation in the Klamath Basin, 2007 Page 49
Research in the Klamath Basin
20 07 Annual Report
Seed oil content varied among entries, but in most cases these differences were
not enough to dramatically alter the ultimate oil yield ranking. Thus in most cases oil
yield was mainly determined by seed yield, not seed oil content. One exception was
Idagold yellow mustard, which ranked 9th in seed yield, but only 18th in oil yield due to
its very low seed oil content.
Dry Treatment Area
There were significant differences between entries for all five parameters. Other
than MB52142, the experimental canolas did not have as high a relative seed yield as
they had in the wet treatment zone. The two rapeseed entries did not perform well in the
dry treatment block. As in the wet block, IdaGold had the highest bushel weight in the
dry block, and also was the tallest entry. Despite the variation observed for seed oil
content, oil yield generally followed the ranking for seed yield. Again, the main
exception to this pattern was Idagold mustard, whose low seed oil content reduced its oil
yield ranking compared to the other entries, although this effect was not as pronounced in
the dry block as it had been in the wet.
Overall, the seed yield and bushel weight were only slightly reduced in the dry
block compared to the wet block, but height and seed oil content both appeared to be
reduced in the dry block where moisture was more limiting.
The entries did not necessarily perform the same relative to each other in the wet
and dry treatment areas. MB52142 and to a lesser degree Hyclass905, Hyola 401, and
Hyclass 910 produced high seed yields in both moisture regimes. Pacific Gold, Sterling,
Gem, Premier produced low seed yields in both moisture environments. Some entries
responded to additional irrigation, producing higher relative and absolute seed yields in
the wet treatment area (Hyclass 910, MB52140, MB52155, and V2018). In a few cases
an entry produced higher absolute seed yield under reduced irrigation (Python, IS 7145
RR, and to a lesser degree 1852H and Hyclass 905).
Summary
To our knowledge, 2006 was the first year canola varieties and related species had
been evaluated in an organized way for yield in the Klamath Basin. Agronomic
management improved in 2007, resulting in increased seed yields overall. Reducing
irrigation seemed to have a greater effect on plant height and seed oil content than it did
on seed yield, oil yield, and bushel weight, although all parameters tended to be lower
under reduced irrigation. However, the entries did not respond equally to reduced
irrigation, and some entries had a greater relative and absolute seed yield in the dry block
where they experienced greater moisture stress. In situations of limited or sporadic
irrigation water availability, such varieties could provide a beneficial management option
for growers wishing to produce seed oil in this region.
Depending on canola’s fit into existing crop rotations, oilseed brassicas seem to
have good potential to provide marketable quantities of oil for biodiesel or other uses in
the Klamath Basin.
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Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center
Growth, Yield, and Oil Production of Canola Varieties in Response
to Differential Irrigation in the Klamath Basin, 2007 Page 50
Research in the Klamath Basin
20 07 Annual Report
Commercial Activity & Future Prospects
Canola was planted on approximately 500 acres by local growers in 2007. A few
acres were planted in fall 2006, but the vast majority of these plantings were made in the
spring. The fall plantings seemed to survive and produce moderate seed yields (approx.
2000 lb/ac) if they had sufficient moisture during cold spring weather, otherwise their
survival and yield suffered. The reported yield of commercial spring plantings varied
from about 1030 lb/ac to 3700 lb/ac (Rick Walsh, pers. Comm., 2007). The highest yields
were in fields that were planted early (late April). However, most of the early planted
fields also suffered from an unusually cold spring where daily low temperatures were in
the mid-20s (oF) for six days in late April and early May. Temperatures tended to be
lower, and damage worse, on the high organic matter lower lake soils compared to the
upland mineral soils, but damage seemed to be reduced if soils were sufficiently moist at
the surface. Most fields planted in mid to late May produced yields in the 2000-2400
lb/ac range, while some later June plantings suffered from heat and insufficient irrigation
water during pollination and seed filling, resulting in reduced yields of about 1200 lb/ac.
A commercial biodiesel production facility is currently in operation south of
Klamath Falls, and a Willamette Valley-based company has been scouting for contracts
in this area, but high grain prices have led most growers to plant wheat and barley instead
of the more speculative canola or other oilseed crops such as camelina. The future
economics of diesel fuel and small grains will likely dictate the future interest in, and
commercial production of, canola for biodiesel in the Klamath Basin. A relatively small
ongoing level of research into oilseed crops should allow rapid adoption and
commercialization of these crops when economic conditions warrant their widespread
production.
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Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center
Growth, Yield, and Oil Production of Canola Varieties in Response
to Differential Irrigation in the Klamath Basin, 2007 Page 51
Research in the Klamath Basin
20 07 Annual Report
Table 1. 2007 Precipitation and irrigation for canola variety x irrigation rate trails. Klamath Basin Research
and Extension Center, Klamath Falls, OR.
Month
Precipitation
(inch)
Wet Block
Irrigation
(inch)
Irrigation
Applications
Dry Block
Irrigation
(inch)
Irrigation
Applications
April
May
June
July
August
0.73
0.24
0.44
0.57
0.18
0.00
3.78
5.74
7.14
3.08
0
7
6
9
3
0.00
3.78
3.01
4.62
2.24
0
7
3
6
2
Total
2.16
19.74
25
13.65
18
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Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center
Growth, Yield, and Oil Production of Canola Varieties in Response
to Differential Irrigation in the Klamath Basin, 2007 Page 52
Research in the Klamath Basin
20 07 Annual Report
Table 2. 2007 Canola variety trial under full irrigation, planted in mineral soil (ranked by seed yield). Klamath Basin Research and
Extension Center, Klamath Falls, OR.
Seed
Variety
Type
Seed
Yield
(lb/ac)
Hyclass 910
MB 52142
MB 52140
MB 52155
Hyola 401
IS 7145 RR
Hyclass 905
V2018
IdaGold
Clearwater
1852H
Hyola 357 Magnum
DKL52-41
Sterling
Python
Gem
IS 3057 RR
Premier
PacificGold
RR Canola
Exp Canola
Exp Canola
Exp Canola
Conv Canola
RR Canola
RR Canola
Conv Canola
Mustard
Conv Canola
RR Canola
Conv Canola
RR Canola
Rapeseed
Clearfield Canola
Rapeseed
RR Canola
Conv Canola
Mustard
3760
3420
3000
2950
2900
2760
2760
2710
2640
2620
2560
2430
2410
2400
2310
2290
2200
2180
1590
Mean
LSD (0.05)
CV (%)
P value
2590
680
18.2
<0.001
Rank
BuWt
(lb/bu)
1
2
3
4
5
6
6
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
48.1
51.3
50.1
50.9
50.7
50.9
49.7
48.5
55.0
50.7
51.1
49.5
50.8
49.8
49.0
50.7
50.5
50.9
50.0
50.5
1.3
1.8
<0.001
Height
Rank (inch)
19
2
12
4
10
5
15
18
1
8
3
16
7
14
17
9
11
6
13
57.8
46.0
49.5
50.5
47.3
50.0
61.0
56.3
48.0
50.0
51.0
45.8
46.8
43.0
53.8
46.0
43.5
48.8
53.8
49.6
7.4
10.5
<0.001
Oil
Content
Rank
(%) Rank
2
15
10
7
13
8
1
3
12
8
6
17
14
19
4
15
18
11
4
40.1
42.6
41.3
40.6
40.1
41.8
40.8
41.2
28.1
40.6
40.5
38.6
41.1
39.9
39.3
40.8
41.2
40.7
36.1
39.7
1.4
2.5
<0.001
13
1
3
11
13
2
8
5
19
10
12
17
6
15
16
7
4
9
18
Oil
Yield
(lb/ac) Rank
1510
1460
1240
1200
1160
1150
1120
1110
740
1060
1040
940
990
960
910
930
910
890
570
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
18
9
10
13
11
12
15
14
16
17
19
1050
280
18.5
<0.001
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Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center
Growth, Yield, and Oil Production of Canola Varieties in Response
to Differential Irrigation in the Klamath Basin, 2007 Page 53
Research in the Klamath Basin
20 07 Annual Report
Table 3. 2007 Canola variety trial under reduced irrigation, planted in mineral soil (ranked by seed yield). Klamath Basin Research
and Extension Center, Klamath Falls, OR.
Seed
Oil
Content
Rank
(%) Rank
Variety
Type
Seed
Yield
(lb/ac)
IS 7145 RR
RR Canola
3390
1
51.3
3
39.3
7
41.0
1
1390
1
MB 52142
Python
Hyclass 905
1852H
Hyola 401
Hyclass 910
MB 52140
MB 52155
DKL52-41
Clearwater
IdaGold
V2018
IS 3057 RR
Hyola 357 Magnum
PacificGold
Premier
Gem
Sterling
Exp Canola
Clearfield Canola
RR Canola
RR Canola
Conv Canola
RR Canola
Exp Canola
Exp Canola
RR Canola
Conv Canola
Mustard
Conv Canola
RR Canola
Conv Canola
Mustard
Conv Canola
Rapeseed
Rapeseed
3040
3040
2970
2800
2750
2680
2660
2500
2490
2470
2390
2080
2060
2030
1960
1940
1780
1660
2
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
50.7
49.4
49.0
50.8
50.3
47.5
52.2
50.8
50.0
50.0
55.1
49.4
50.6
48.9
49.4
50.1
49.7
48.7
6
14
16
5
8
19
2
4
10
11
1
15
7
17
13
9
12
18
32.3
45.0
39.3
35.3
32.5
47.3
38.3
34.0
35.5
39.8
47.5
40.0
33.5
30.0
40.0
33.8
30.5
29.5
16
3
7
11
15
2
9
12
10
6
1
4
14
18
4
13
17
19
40.4
38.3
39.6
38.2
37.4
38.2
35.2
37.3
39.2
38.3
26.0
39.0
39.5
36.7
36.7
38.6
38.2
37.4
2
8
3
12
14
10
18
15
5
9
19
6
4
16
17
7
10
13
1230
1170
1180
1070
1030
1030
940
930
980
950
620
810
810
750
720
750
680
620
2
4
3
5
7
6
10
11
8
9
18
13
12
15
16
14
17
19
Mean
LSD(0.05)
CV (%)
P value
2460
650
18.8
<0.001
Rank
BuWt
(lb/bu)
50.2
1.4
2.0
<0.001
Height
Rank (inch)
37.0
5.5
10.5
<0.001
37.6
1.5
2.8
<0.001
Oil
Yield
(lb/ac)
Rank
930
260
20.0
<0.001
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Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center
Growth, Yield, and Oil Production of Canola Varieties in Response
to Differential Irrigation in the Klamath Basin, 2007 Page 54