Article taken from the CPM
A new study assessing the impact of lodging on OSR yields shows growers could be suffering much heavier penalties than previously thought.
At typical lodging levels of 30%, growers could lose up t £170/ha, according to ADAS research funded by BASF.
Dr Sarah Kendall, who led the research, says lodging is widespread, occurring in all OSR fields assess in a 2014 aerial survey in N Yorks, Lincs and Cambs.
“On average 27% of the 1000ha assessed was lodged,” she notes. “Often this occurred in the middle of fields, where it can go unnoticed until harvest.”
This followed similar work carried out in 2012, when 35% of 2000ha surveyed across East Anglia was lodged, with 99% of fields affected to some degrees.
Artificial lodging experiments carried out last season reveal the true cost of the problem. Lodging was induced in the variety Kite at four growth stages and three lodging angles, from leaning to flat.
Not surprisingly, flat crops suffered the most damage. Yields were slashed from 4.5t in the standing crop to under 2t/ha at the latest mid-seed fill timing, and by nearly as much at early or mid flowering and early seed fill. Seed oil content fell 5-8%.
Crops lodged to 45° suffered yield losses of 0.75-1.5t/ha, the latter when lodging occurred at mid seed-fill. Oil contents dropped by up to 6%.
Interestingly, crops that were only leaning (22.5°) were also hit hard, despite this sometimes being considered beneficial as it helps avoid shattering and makes combining easier, says Sarah Kendall. “However, our findings show that yield can be cut by 25% when leaning occurs at seed fill.”
Based on an OSR price of £250/t and 31% lodging (the average of the two years), losses on a flat crop could reach £170/ha from lost yield and oil content, regardless of additional combining and drying costs, she says. That equates to about £110m nationally.
“However, even late learning can result in a loss £70/ha. The cost of lodging can be significant and shouldn’t be ignored.”
Agrovista trials in 2013 at Stoughton showed Caryx at 1 /ha produced an extra 0.3t/ha of yield even where leaning was only slight. A slightly bigger return was obtained in the dry spring of 2014, again in a crop with little leaning.
Increased branching was a key driver, notes company’s Mark Hemmant. “Secondary branches can contribute over 1t/ha, and we know that Caryx encourages their production.
What is Caryx?
A new study assessing the impact of lodging on OSR yields shows growers could be suffering much heavier penalties than previously thought.
At typical lodging levels of 30%, growers could lose up t £170/ha, according to ADAS research funded by BASF.
Dr Sarah Kendall, who led the research, says lodging is widespread, occurring in all OSR fields assess in a 2014 aerial survey in N Yorks, Lincs and Cambs.
“On average 27% of the 1000ha assessed was lodged,” she notes. “Often this occurred in the middle of fields, where it can go unnoticed until harvest.”
This followed similar work carried out in 2012, when 35% of 2000ha surveyed across East Anglia was lodged, with 99% of fields affected to some degrees.
Artificial lodging experiments carried out last season reveal the true cost of the problem. Lodging was induced in the variety Kite at four growth stages and three lodging angles, from leaning to flat.
Not surprisingly, flat crops suffered the most damage. Yields were slashed from 4.5t in the standing crop to under 2t/ha at the latest mid-seed fill timing, and by nearly as much at early or mid flowering and early seed fill. Seed oil content fell 5-8%.
Crops lodged to 45° suffered yield losses of 0.75-1.5t/ha, the latter when lodging occurred at mid seed-fill. Oil contents dropped by up to 6%.
Interestingly, crops that were only leaning (22.5°) were also hit hard, despite this sometimes being considered beneficial as it helps avoid shattering and makes combining easier, says Sarah Kendall. “However, our findings show that yield can be cut by 25% when leaning occurs at seed fill.”
Based on an OSR price of £250/t and 31% lodging (the average of the two years), losses on a flat crop could reach £170/ha from lost yield and oil content, regardless of additional combining and drying costs, she says. That equates to about £110m nationally.
“However, even late learning can result in a loss £70/ha. The cost of lodging can be significant and shouldn’t be ignored.”
Agrovista trials in 2013 at Stoughton showed Caryx at 1 /ha produced an extra 0.3t/ha of yield even where leaning was only slight. A slightly bigger return was obtained in the dry spring of 2014, again in a crop with little leaning.
Increased branching was a key driver, notes company’s Mark Hemmant. “Secondary branches can contribute over 1t/ha, and we know that Caryx encourages their production.
What is Caryx?
Specifically developed for use in OSR
Metconazole (30g/l) + mepiquat chloride (210g/l)
Timing – from start of stem extension to yellow bud
Rate – GAI >0.8 = 0.7 – 1 l/ha GAI >2 = 1 – 1.4 l/ha
Activity – reduces height, strengthens stem, lengthens lower branches, increases secondary branching. Increases light to lower canopy, evens flowering and ripening
Average yield increase = 0.44t/ha over untreated and MOIC of £98/ha (@£270/t inc premiums) in BASF development trials