Fertilization of oilseed rape with and without autumn nitrogen dose

Abstract

Investigation of the effect of autumn nitrogen dose, in comparison to nitrogen fertilization without autumn dose, on rapeseed yield, oil content and oil production was the main aim of the experiment. The plot scale experiment was conducted during three experimental years 2013 – 2016 in terms of agricultural cooperative in Mojmírovce. The experiment consisted of three treatments of nitrogen fertilization. The block method of experimental plot size of 600 m² was used in this experiment. It was tested in triplicate. The total dose of nitrogen was 240 kg ha^-1. Both treatments were fertilized during spring in phonological growth stages BBCH 20, 30 and 51. There was applied autumn nitrogen dose in BBCH 15 at treatment 2. Considering the weather conditions of the previous year, a significant effect of autumn nitrogen dose was not expected in this experiment. Results were predictably, significantly influenced by different weather conditions. The experimental year 2013/2014 was wetter and warmer than the other two experimental years. The highest average yield of seed, 3.63 t ha^-1 was reached at treatment  3 without any autumn nitrogen application. The average oil content fluctuated from 44.36 % to 45.09 %. The highest average oil content 46.72 % was observed in weather more favourable the experimental year 2013/2014. Although the highest average oil production of treatment 3 reached 1625.04 kg ha^-1, the difference in oil production between treatments with and without an autumn dose of nitrogen was not statistically significant, similarly as yield. The highest average oil production was statistically significant in the experimental year 2013/2014.

Keywords: oilseed rape, the yield of seed, oil content, oil production, autumn nitrogen dose