When it comes to putting in canola, few decisions are more important than getting the seeding rate right.
Now there are two new online calculators that you can find at www.canolacalculator.ca that will help determine the correct plant stand for an individual field.
The calculators determine target plant density and seeding rate, and allow farmers to customize this decision for individual fields.
Stand density
Users position sliding scales to determine the level of risk for various factors that influence plant stand targets. If weed competition is very low, for example, the calculator will set a lower target stand. But if spring frost risk is high, the calculator sets a higher target stand to compensate.
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Seeding rate
This tool has three modes. In seeding rate mode, users input 1,000 seed weight, target plant density and estimated seed survival, and the calculator computes the required seeding rate. In plant survival mode, users enter the number of plants per square foot that emerged along with known seed weight and seeding rate, and the calculator gives the seed survival rate. In plant density mode, the calculator takes 1,000 seed weight, seeding rate and estimated seed survival to give the number of plants that should emerge.
Studies show that survival can vary widely and that 50 to 70 per cent is fairly typical, so the default seed survival is 60 per cent. If yours is different, change the value given in the calculator.
