Plant population may affect plant height, maturity, disease incidence, standability and seed quality. Heavy plant stands will tend to lodge and are more susceptible to sclerotinia white mold. Low plant populations will have stronger stalks and more branching, but will mature later and may have weed-control problems.
A desirable canola stand includes eight to 12 plants per square foot. A general recommendation is to plant 4.5 to 5.5 pounds of seed per acre for spring types and about 6 pounds per acre for winter varieties. It is important to plant in a firm seedbed 1/2 to 1 inch deep.
Before selecting a well-drained field, preparing a firm seedbed and applying fertilizer, it is critical to review the crop protection history of previous wheat crops grown on that field. Canola is susceptible to many broadleaf herbicides with a long residual life.
Sulfonylurea (SU) products such as Ally®, Glean®, Finesse®, Amber® and others affect canola development at low carryover rates. Imidazolinone (IMI) herbicides such as Pursuit®, Beyond® and Raptor® can also be a concern, as are triazine formulations such as atrazine. Check with your CROPLAN GENETICS® seed local agronomist to determine the best field choice.