Effects of Agricultural Management on Nitrogen Nutrition and Yield of Canola (Brassica napus L.) in Gorgan

Subject Areas : Journal of Crop Ecophysiology

A. Behdadian ¹ , A. Soltani ² , E. Zeinali ³ , H. Adjam Norouzi ⁴

1 - Former Msc. Student of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Gorgan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Grogan, Iran
2 - Prof., Faculty of Agriculture, University of Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
3 - Assistant Prof., Faculty of Agriculture, University of Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
4 - Assistant Prof., Faculty of Agriculture, Gorgan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Grogan, Iran

Received: 2012-02-29 Accepted : 2012-07-18 Published : 2012-09-22

Keywords: Management, yield, Canola, Nitrogen Nutrition Index,

Abstract :

To assess the effects of management factors on nitrogen nutrition and seed yield of rapeseed farms in Gorgan areas, an experiment was conducted as a nested model arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in 2010. Fifteen canola fields were classified at three levels of management (optimum, medium, minimum) studied at four growth stages. Questionnaires were filled out by farmers for the quantification of agricultural management levels during the experiment. The results showed that levels of management for nitrogen nutrition index, plant density, dry matter yield, seed yield and harvest index were different significantly (p<0.01). Although quantities of nitrogen nutrition index (NNI) were higher in optimum level of management than the medium and minimum levels (P<0.05), the index was less than 1 during the growing season and in all management levels which can be attributed to nitrogen deficiency of soil. However, the effects of other managerial factors like, tillage methods, planting date, varieties, plant density, control of weeds and pests and irrigation at yellow buds stage should not be ignored. Better control of the these factors at the optimum management level increased 60 percent in seed product against poor management level. Thus, changes in agricultural management practices, may increase production in the near future and reduce dependence of our country to imported edible oil.