Technology | Summer 2008
Does straight-cutting suit hybrids?
By Kieran Brett
You've done everything right with your 2008 hybrid canola. Now it's time to get it in the bin. First, though, a question: Should you go with traditional swathing, or take the plunge and straight-cut your crop?
Well-known benefits of swathing include reduced shattering, more even crop ripening, and reduced risk of wind and frost losses. On the other hand, straight-cutting could potentially make you more money due to lower fuel and labour costs, reduced equipment wear, and possibly higher yield and higher seed quality.
A three-year study funded by the Alberta Canola Producers Commission was conducted by Paul Watson of the Alberta Research Council with Neil Harker from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Stewart Brandt with Bayer CropScience. The study looked at whether canola stands with higher yield potential would be better straight-cut than crops with lower yield potential. The study, which began in 2005, had field plots in Lacombe and Vegreville, AB and Scott, SK.
"As potential yield increases, the branches and pods intertwine with each other, knitting the canopy together so in a high-wind situation the crop canopy will move as a whole," says Watson. "If you use all the best farming practices - good fertility, good plant density and early weed removal - then the chances of being successful with straight-cutting are increased."
According to Canola Council of Canada research, in stands seeded at 5 lb./acre, yields from straight-cut canola were equal to yields of canola swathed at 30 per cent to 40 per cent seed colour change. At a 3 lb./acre seeding rate, however, straight-cut yields were 12 per cent higher than swathed yields.
