Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-ttngx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-30T15:53:12.983Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Applying granulated and hydrated hydrophilic polymers at sowing to sustain seedling establishment of spring turnip rape

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 January 2011

H. KÄNKÄNEN ,
E. AURA ,
K. PAHKALA ,
P. PELTONEN-SAINIO  and
E. HUUSELA-VEISTOLA
H. KÄNKÄNEN*
Affiliation:
MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Plant Production, FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland
E. AURA
Affiliation:
MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Plant Production, FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland
K. PAHKALA
Affiliation:
MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Plant Production, FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland
P. PELTONEN-SAINIO
Affiliation:
MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Plant Production, FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland
E. HUUSELA-VEISTOLA
Affiliation:
MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Plant Production, FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland
*
*To whom all correspondence should be addressed. Email: hannu.kankanen@mtt.fi
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Optimal temperature and soil moisture conditions for germination of spring turnip rape (Brassica rapa L. subsp. oleifera DC.) are not often realized in Finland. New tools for better establishment, such as water-storing polymers, could ensure a good start for yield formation. Because technologies in field cropping must be cost effective and easy to carry out, the amounts of polymers applied per hectare should be small. After recording non-significant effects of granulated polymers under field conditions and reduced emergence under dry conditions in pots, hydrated polyacrylamide (PAM) was placed under the seeds during drilling, a technique referred to as gel-sowing. Slightly acid PAM polymer hydrated with water was used (5–7 g PAM/kg gel). The gel was pumped directly under the seeds at application rates of 1·0–3·4 kg PAM/ha. The PAM gel did not reduce the need for careful preparation of the soil bed and accurate timing of sowing, but when these prerequisites were fulfilled, the gel sustained early establishment and seedling growth. The gel helped when circumstances after sowing did not favour germination or early establishment. However, accurate placing of PAM gel under the seeds is challenging and further improvements in the technique of gel-sowing could enhance its positive effects.

Type
Crops and Soils
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 149 , Issue 5 , October 2011 , pp. 567 - 577
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Berdahl, J. D. & Barker, R. E. (1980). Germination and emergence of Russian wild rye seeds coated with hydrophilic materials. Agronomy Journal 72, 1006–1008.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clayton, G. W., Harker, K. N., O'Donovan, J. T., Blackshaw, R. E., Dosdall, L., Stevenson, F. C., Henderson, J. C. & Hensley, D. L. (2004). Polymer seed coating of early- and late-fall-seeded herbicide-tolerant canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 84, 971–979.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cook, D. F. & Nelson, S. D. (1986). Effect of polyacrylamide on seedling emergence in crust-forming soils. Soil Science 141, 328–333.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
FAO (2006). World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2006: A Framework for International Classification, Correlation and Communication. World Soil Resources Reports 103. Rome: FAO.Google Scholar
Harper, F. R. & Berkenkamp, B. (1975). Revised growth-stage key for Brassica campestris and B. napus. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 55, 657–658.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henderson, J. C. & Hensley, D. L. (1987). Effect of a hydrophilic gel on seed germination of three tree species. Horticulture Science 22, 450–452.Google Scholar
Johnson, E. N., Miller, P. R., Blackshaw, R. E., Gan, Y., Harker, K. N., Clayton, G. W., Kephart, K. D., Wichman, D. M., Topinka, K. & Kirkland, K. J. (2004). Seeding date and polymer seed coating effects on plant establishment and yield of fall-seeded canola in the Northern Great Plains. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 84, 955–963.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, M. S. & Leah, R. T. (1990). Effects of superabsorbent polyacrylamides on efficiency of water use by crop seedlings. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 52, 431–434.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Karamanos, R. E., Harapiak, J. & Flore, N. A. (2002). Fall and early spring seeding of canola (Brassica napus L.) using different methods of seeding and phosphorus placement. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 82, 21–26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirkland, K. J. & Johnson, E. N. (2000). Alternative seeding dates (fall and April) affect Brassica napus canola yield and quality. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 80, 713–719.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Littell, R. C., Milliken, G. A., Stroup, W. W. & Wolfinger, R. D. (1996). SAS System for Mixed Models. Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc.Google Scholar
Longden, P. C., Johnson, M. G., Darby, R. J. & Salter, P. J. (1979). Establishment and growth of sugar beet as affected by seed treatment and fluid drilling. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 93, 541–552.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nykiforuk, C. L. & Johnson-Flanagan, A. M. (1999). Storage reserve mobilization during low temperature germination and early seedling growth in Brassica napus. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 37, 939–947.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pahkala, K. (2003). Germination and establishment of spring sown oilseed crops. In Proceedings of the 11th International Rapeseed Congress: Towards Enhanced Value of Cruciferous Oilseed Crops by Optimal Production and Use of the High Quality Seed Components, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark, 6–10 July 2003 (Eds Sorensen, H., Sorensen, J. C., Sorensen, S., Muguerza, N. B. & Bjergegaard, C.), pp. 959–962. Copenhagen, Denmark: The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University.Google Scholar
Pahkala, K., Sankari, H. & Ketoja, E. (1994). The relation between stand density and the structure of spring rape (Brassica napus L.). Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 172, 269–278.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peltonen-Sainio, P. & Jauhiainen, L. (2008). Association of growth dynamics, yield components and seed quality in long-term trials covering rapeseed cultivation history at high latitudes. Field Crops Research 108, 101–108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peltonen-Sainio, P., Känkänen, H., Pahkala, K., Salo, Y., Huusela-Veistola, E. & Peltonen, J. (2006). Polymer coated turnip rape seed did not facilitate early broadcast sowing under Finnish growing conditions. Agricultural and Food Science 15, 152–165.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
SAS INSTITUTE (2004). SAS User's Guide version 9.1. Cary, NC: SAS Institute.Google Scholar
Velička, R., Marcinkevičienė, A., Rimkevičienė, M., Trečiokas, K. & Venskutonienė, E. (2005). Relationships between spring oilseed rape density, assimilating leaf area, lighting and yield. Agronomijas Vēstis (Latvian Journal of Agronomy) 8, 185–190.Google Scholar
Volkmar, K. M. & Chang, C. (1995). Influence of hydrophilic gel polymers on water relations and growth and yield of barley and canola. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 75, 605–611.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wallace, A. & Wallace, G. A. (1986). Effects of soil conditioners on emergence and growth of tomato, cotton, and lettuce seedlings. Soil Science 141, 313–316.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wallace, G. A., Wallace, A. M., Abouzamzam, A. M. & Cha, J. W. (1986). Soil tests to determine application rates for polymeric soil conditioners. Soil Science 141, 390–394.CrossRefGoogle Scholar