The canola/nitrogen research is averaged over locations as standard treatments were included. The data should still be considered preliminary until combined analysis can be completed to evaluate interactions.

The ppi nitrogen fertility treatments were applied May 14 as urea and incorporated by roto-tilling three inches deep. Seeding of the variety/seeding rate strips was also on May 14. A double disk drill was used to seed the ‘Alsen’ at 95 and 142 lb/a and the ‘Briggs’ at 76 and 115 lb/a to equalize seeding rates of pure live seed plant populations. The previous crop was flax. The soil series was a Barnes loam with a soil test of 35N, 17P, 6.3 pH, 4.1 OM. The 24-48 inch soil zone had 26 lb/a N. Good moisture was present in the seed zone and soil profile at seeding time. The three leaf stage fertilizer applications on June 5 received rain the next day and two inches of rain was received over the next two weeks. The six leaf fertilizer treatments were applied June 17 in hot dry conditions. 0.28 inch rain was received on June 21 followed by light rain on four days totaling 0.62 inch. The post applied UAN treatments were applied with a tractor mounted CO2 pressurized sprayer using stream bars at 25 psi. The post applied urea was hand spread on each plot. Weed control was excellent. General fungicide applications, over all N treatments, were made at 5 leaf, early flowering and late flowering, Stratego 10 oz/a, Folicur 2 oz/a and Folicur 2 oz/a, respectively. Foliar disease control was excellent but low levels of fusarium head blight were still present. Fertility plot size was 20’ x 10’ of which 15’ x 4.3’, were straight combined on Aug. 20.

Summary (Table 1)

Foliage burn from the stream bar applied UAN (28+0+0) was very low on both dates. Almost no lodging was present in this experiment. All interactions between variety, seeding rate and fertility treatment were non-significant. The nitrogen data presented are averaged over varieties and seeding rates because interactions did not occur.

Maturity, as indicated by harvest H2O and percent yellow or dead flag leaf on Aug 8, was correlated with yield and protein content. Yield and protein generally increased with delayed maturity due to nitrogen treatment.

Data from the standard urea treatments, PPI applied with no post applied N, indicated no difference between the 180 and 210 total lb N/a treatments. Both had an 11 bu/a increase over 90 total lb N/a. The 90 lb N/a treatment should only have been adequate for 36 bu/a but 62 bu/a was harvested. This indicates that either N that did not show in the soil test was available to the crop or there was a higher N efficiency of the plant this year when environmental conditions favored high yield.

The treatment, 135 lb N/a at six-leaf with no other nitrogen applied, was the only one without a significant yield increase over applying only 90 lb total N/a. This treatment was also the only one with obvious leaf chlorosis before the post N was applied. When the 135 lb N/a was applied at the 3- leaf stage instead of 6-leaf, a 7.5 bu/a yield increase was observed. Post applied N needs to be applied before the deficiency symptoms are visible.

When comparing the treatments which received 180 total lb N/a, except the one which received no N until 6 leaf stage, there was no significant difference in yield between applying part of the N post applied or all of the N ppi in the spring. Post applied N caused protein levels to be both higher and lower than if the N was ppi in the spring.

The extended release urea fertilizers had the highest protein levels. The 43+0+0 material which releases N at a slower rate than the 44+0+0 had a significant 6 bu/a yield increase over the 44+0+0 material. These preliminary results indicate another potential method of increasing protein levels so further study is warranted.

Significant differences between varieties and seeding rate occurred only for plant stand, harvest moisture and tombstone kernel percent (Table 2). The Alsen had higher harvest moisture than Briggs though the heading dates were the same. Alsen, grown at Langdon, typically has later maturity compared to other varieties even without fungicide applications. The higher tombstone kernel count, though quite low, for Briggs compared to Alsen would also be typical. Heads/ft2 for the experiment is fairly high due to cool wet weather during tillering.

Table 1. Post-Applied Nitrogen for HRSW Production, Langdon, ND 2003

Urea - 46+0+0 surface applied granules

28+0+0 - UAN applied with stream bars

ER 44+0+0 - Agrium, Duration AG, extended release urea

ER 43+0+0 - Simplot, Purcel's Polyon- extended release urea

Table 2. Post-Applied Nitrogen for HRSW Production, Langdon, ND 2003

‘Lebsock’ durum was planted May 21 on sunflower ground. Seeding rates of 1.0 and 1.5 million pls/acre were used. Folicur fungicide at Feekes 10.5 growth stage was compared to no fungicide. The nitrogen soil test was 31 lb N/a and 90 lb N/a was applied at four timings. Harvest was on Aug. 21. All post-applied N was applied as pure liquid 28+0+0 (UAN) with a hand-held CO² pressurized sprayer using TeeJet-StreamJet nozzles. Post-N application dates were at 2.0 and 4.5 leaf plus at jointing on June 12 and 23, respectively. Precipitation to incorporate the N was adequate within 48 hours of both applications.

Summary (Table 3)

Differences due to seeding rate and fungicide were none significant and are not presented. When the N application was delayed until jointing stage the yield was significantly reduced. No difference significant difference in protein occurred.

Table 3. Nitrogen Timing Trial on Durum Wheat – Garrison, ND 2003

Total N of 121 lb N/a includes 31 lb N/a from soil test and 90 lb N/a applied as fertilizer.

Data values are averaged over two seeding rates, with and without fungicide.

Irrigated and non-irrigated research trials were established on the same field. The soil types were

Heimdal-Emrick and Fram-Wyard loams with a fall soil test of 40 N, 7.8 pH and 3.4% OM. The previous crop was soybean so an N credit of 40 lb N/a was used. The yield goal was 72 bu/a based on 180 lbs of total N. ‘Briggs’ HRSW was seeded on April 23 in 7-inch rows at 1.8 million pls/a. All post-applied N was applied as pure liquid 28+0+0 (UAN) with a hand-held CO² pressurized sprayer using stream bars. Post-N application dates were at 3.25, 4.5 and 5.5 leaf plus at 2^nd node visible on May 23, May 31, June 4 and June 10, respectively. Precipitation to incorporate the N on the non-irrigated trial was likely adequate except for the 4.5 leaf stage. One-half inch water was applied to incorporate the N at 4.5 leaf stage for the irrigated trial. Harvest of the dryland and irrigated sites were Aug. 12 and 16, respectively.

Summary (Table 4)

Almost no foliage burn occurred even with application of up to 32 gallon/a of pure UAN. Lodging was reduced in both trials by applying lower rates of PPI N. Lodging likely reduced yield in the irrigated trial. The lodging caused the higher PPI N treatments to have lower yield and higher protein. Yield and protein in the non-irrigated trial were reduced with lower rates of PPI N and when precipitation was marginal for N incorporation.

Table 4. Effect of Split Applications of Nitrogen on HRSW – Carrington, ND 2003

a - 180 lb/a Total N, includes 44 lb N/a from fall soil test and 40 lb N/a soybean previous crop credit

b – 1 = erect, 9 = flat

Principal Investigator by Location

Langdon – John Lukach, NDSU Langdon Research Extension Center

Hettinger - Eric Eriksmoen, NDSU Hettinger Research Extension Center

Carrington – Bob Henson, NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center

Minot – Mark Halvorson, NDSU North Central Research Extension Center

Williston – Neil Rievland, NDSU Williston Research Extension Center

Wishek and Valley City – Larry Swenson, NDSU Soil Science Dept.

1. Evaluate efficiency of split applied nitrogen at the canola five leaf stage compared to

pre-plant incorporated.

2. Re-evaluate the nitrogen response curve for canola and adjust to fit varieties or locations

which may require lower nitrogen fertilization than currently recommended.

3. Compare lower cost seed of open pollinated canola varieties to hybrid varieties in

lower yielding environments that may not support the expense of hybrid seed.

The 2003 research sites were located at Hettinger, Williston, Minot, Wishek, Valley City, Carrington and Langdon. The statistical design was a split plot with fertility treatments as main plots and varieties as sub-plots with four replications. All locations had 11 base treatments with seven nitrogen (N) rates with all N applied pre-plant incorporated (PPI) and four treatments with all N applied post-emergence (post) at the 4-5 leaf stage. Treatments by location are shown in Table 5.

The PPI-N treatments were the urea source. Ammonium nitrate was post applied N source to reduce chance of undocumented volatilization differences between sites. Each site was sampled early to verify a uniform soil series and to obtain baseline fertility values for macro and micro-nutrients. Detailed soil sampling at each site was conducted just prior to applying treatments and planting. Each main plot was sampled in 0-6 and 6-24 inch increments and 16 plots were sampled for the 24-48 inch increment, in a grid pattern.

Fertility plot size across locations ranged from 15 to 20+ feet wide by 25 to 30 feet in length.

The varieties include one hybrid and one open pollinated (OP). The varieties ‘Hyola 357 Magnum’ and ‘Minot’ both Roundup Ready were provided from one seed source for all locations. The seed was treated with Helix Xtra. Production inputs other than nitrogen varied by location but were applied uniformly across all N treatments. 20 lb/ac S as sulfate was applied at all locations and phosphorus as needed. Fungicide and post applied insecticide varied over locations. No location was affected by serious insect or disease problems. Hettinger received early frost damage.

Funding for this Research was provided by:

US Canola Association

Northern Canola Growers

ND State Board of Agriculture and Education

Table 5. Nitrogen Fertility Treatment by Location, 2003

Total Nitrogen includes soil test and nitrogen applied with P or S fertilizer.

Objective 1.

Evaluate efficiency of nitrogen applied at the canola five leaf stage compared to pre-plant incorporated.

There is split nitrogen application data available from five ND locations in 2001 and 2002. The 2002 data set includes all N applied at the canola five-leaf stage which preformed equal to the split applications. Only treatments with all N fertilizer applied PPI or post were included in this work to reduce size of the experiments. The responses to post-applied N are variable by site and year. Yields were increased at Carrington by post applying N in two three years. The increases were statistically significant in 2001, a 500 lb/a increase and in 2003, a 200-500 lb/a decrease. The post-applied N compared to PPI-N had significant decreases in yield at Wishek in 2003 and at some rates at Valley City and Hettinger in 2003. The other five sites over years had no significant difference between PPI and post applied N.

The use of post-applied N appears to be a viable management option for canola producers. The major risk with post-N is that, regardless of N source, rain for incorporation is needed. Also conflicts with herbicide application may be a factor as a tank mix will likely cause high foliage burn. The biggest advantage of post applied N would be time to evaluate stand establishment, flea beetle damage, weed problems and moisture situation before determining the level of investment in N fertility for a given field.

Objective 2.

Re-evaluate the nitrogen response curve for canola and adjust to fit varieties or locations which may require lower nitrogen fertilization than currently recommended.

Preliminary data from 2001 and 2002 indicated that the current NDSU recommendations for N fertilizer on canola were higher than necessary when canola yields were below 1500 lb/a. That data also indicated that the current NDSU recommendation of N fertilizer on canola yielding 2000 lb/a was accurate. The 2003 data supports this, though some special circumstances are appearing as more site-data are accumulated. Examples are; in 2003 Langdon raised 1800 lb/a canola on treatments with only 30 lb N/a fertility and Carrington had very low yield responses to high rates of N. Extra N

the likely explanations.

The economic importance of the data is that in low yield environments less N is needed to produce a crop than shown by current NDSU recommendations. The data indicate that only 66 lb N/a is needed for a 1500 lb/a yield when the current recommendation is 98 lb N/a (soil test plus all applied N). If N costs $0.25/lb a producer in a low yield region could save $8.00 in N input cost. There are probably about 300,000 acres of canola grown in ND alone that would that fit the lower yield category. If the grower decides, before 5-leaf growth stage, that he has more yield potential, more N can be added as a post treatment.

Caution should be observed with lower fertilizer rates because the lower fertilizer rates will cause the grower to remove more N with the seed than is added as fertilizer. For canola with a 4% N concentration 1000, 1500 and 2000 lb/a yields would remove 40, 60 and 80 lb N/a, respectively.

Objective 3.

Compare lower cost seed of open pollinated canola varieties to hybrid varieties in lower yielding environments that may not support the expense of hybrid seed.

Comparison of hybrid and open pollinated canola varieties in standard variety trials always use high fertility and input rates. The hybrids in this situation will most of the time have an economic advantage over open pollinated varieties. Lower yield situations with lower fertility levels in the 2003 data indicate less difference in yield potential between the hybrid and open pollinated lines than if higher nitrogen rates are applied. This was clearly the situation at the Valley City and Wishek locations but was not apparent at the Hettinger location.

The economic example for evaluation of this is variable by seed cost, seeding rate and price received for the harvested crop. Assume canola seed without seed treatment is $1.60/lb cheaper than hybrid seed and a 5 lb/a seeding rate is used. Then the hybrid has to produce enough additional yield to make up for $8.00 additional input cost. If you sell your seed for $10.00/cwt or $6.50/cwt the hybrid has to have higher yield of 180 or 123 lb/a to break even.