Recipient Organization
ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY
4900 MERIDIAN STREET
NORMAL,AL 35762
Performing Department
Biological & Environmental Sci
Non Technical Summary
Domestic consumption of canola oil far exceeds canola production in the U.S. Nearly 85% of canola consumed in the country is imported from Canada. Winter canola cultivars are well suited to environmental conditions prevalent in the southeastern region. Thus, expansion of winter canola production in the region will reduce US dependence on imported food oil. This will also significantly improve farm profitability and sustainability for growers in the region especially canola seeds command higher prices than many other cash crops.Early maturing winter canola cultivars fit better in double cropping systems compared to conventional canola cultivars. Selection of best performing early maturing lines is necessary to improve canola adoption by farmers across southern states. Adoption of winter canola into the cropping systems will improve crop diversity, increase farm revenues, and improve economic growth in the region.
Animal Health Component
75%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
75%
Developmental
15%
Goals / Objectives
Our long term goals are to (1) expand canola production, and (2)improve farm sustainability and profitability through crop diversification with increased adoption and cultivation of winter canola in the southeastern US.Our specific objectives are to (1) evaluate early maturing winter canola (AAMU lines) in Alabama and other statesin thesouthern region; (2) evaluate harvest aids in minimizing seed loss due to pod shattering, and 3) educate farmers and other stakeholders on canola technology through educational workshop/field days and the development of a canola module, "Winter Canola Farming Basics for the Southeast".
Project Methods
Objective 1- Evaluation of early maturing winter canola lines in Alabama and other states particularly within the southeastern US.Task1) Parallel studies in Alabama, Virginia and Tennessee will evaluate 17 of the best performing early maturing lines (high yielding) along with four check varieties in Alabama (AAMU), Virginia (VSU) and Tennessee State University (Tennessee) through our collaboration with Dr. Harbans Bhardwaj (VSU) and Dr. Matthew Blair (TSU). Agronomic data to be collected from these studies are: a) post winter plant stand; b) phenological development (dates of bolting, flowering, pod maturity, plant height); c) number of pods per one meter row length; d) seed yield; e) moisture content, and f) oil content. Standard planting and cultivation protocols recommended for canola will be followed. Pest information will include: a) insect pest identification, diversity and abundance, and b) pathogen identification and density of diseased plants. In this study, early maturing lines will be planted in the fall following planting dates recommended for each state, usually anytime between September 15 and October 10. Each genetic line will be planted in four 7.5-inch row-spacing x 20 ft plot arranged in Randomized Compete Block design with four replications (block). Data will be obtained through non-destructive sampling of ten plants per plot. Ten plants will be randomly selected and labeled (with flagging) early in the spring when plants are at rosette stage. Plant height will be measured weekly beginning when plants are about 4 inches tall. The same plants will be measured at same time interval for other agronomic characteristics. For insect pest determination, five 180° sweeps using standard sweep net (15 in dia) will be made across the length of each plot at weekly interval beginning at flower bud stage until before harvest. Collected insects will be transferred into a labeled plastic bag and placed in a freezer overnight prior to sorting, identification and counting. Representative samples of adult insects will be pinned for voucher collection for future reference. Immature and soft bodied insects will be preserved in 75% ethanol in vials.Task 2) The National Winter Canola Variety Trial (NWCVT) Program - Expanded geographical evaluation of select early maturing lines will be done through the National Winter Canola Variety Trial (NWCVT) program. Data to be collected will include cultural practices, site description, growing conditions and performance data, e.g., yield, winter survival, fall stand, plant height, oil content, etc. For this project we will submit the five top early maturing lines to NCWVT for evaluation. Canola cultivation procedures will follow standard recommendations for the area. As prescribed for all trials, genetic lines will be planted in small plots (150 ft2) with three replications.Objective 2- Evaluation of dessicants and pod sealant in regulating pod maturation and minimizing seed loss from pod shattering.In this study we will compare Reglone with alternative herbicides, i.e., glyphosate (Round-up) and glufosinate (Liberty), alone or in combination with Pod Ceal, applied at two treatment dates when 1) 60-70% of pods turned brown, and 2) 80-90% pod browning. Canola plots (10x10 ft2) in Randomized Complete Block (time of application) design will receive treatments in four replications. Only the middle two rows of each plot will be sprayed and sampled for data measurements. Outside rows will serve as buffer protecting middle rows from spray drift. Treatments are harvest aids alone [diquat bromide (Reglone), glyphosate (Round up), glufosinate (Liberty), Pod Ceal] or in combination with Pod Ceal [diquat bromide+Pod Ceal, glyphosate+Pod Ceal, glufosinate (Liberty)+Pod Ceal, untreated control] and time of application (at 60-70% pod browning and at 80-90% pod browning). Dessicants will first be applied and allowed to dry before applying Pod Ceal in herbicide/sealant combinations. Date when all pods turn brown in each plot will be recorded. Three plants randomly selected per plot will be cut from the base of the stem, placed in a large plastic bag and brought to the lab for the following measurements: Biomass (above ground plant weight), number of pods, seed weight, and seeds moisture content.Objective 3 - Farmer and other stakeholder education through workshop/field days and development of canola module, "Winter Canola Farming Basics for the Southeast"Canola fields in farmer cooperators' commercial production farms or inExperimentStations of participating institutionswill serve as demonstration plots for other farmers and stakeholders interested in canola production and related industry (e.g., biofuel). A demonstration workshop/field day will be carried out at least once per location during the 2-year duration of this project. This will facilitate wider outreach to farmers and other stakeholders in the area.Key project personnel will provide recommendations to cooperator farmers on best cultivar and best management practices to employ. Other recommendations may involve planting dates, fertilizer applications, seeding rates, crop rotation, disease and pest identifications, harvest methods, etc. Demonstration fields will be available for other farmers' visits during field days which will be organized and coordinated by key project personnel. Feedback from farmers and other participating stakeholders will be solicited during each workshop/field day. Attendees will be requested to respond to pre- and post- survey questionnaires given to attendees before and after each event, respectively to determine amount of knowledge learned and results will be used also to improve educational programs for farmers and stakeholders. Farmers will be invited to planned extension meetings (e.g., ACES), co-ops and industry-sponsored training sessions and other state or regional meetings whenever possible. The project team will develop a canola module ("Winter Canola Farming Basics for the Southeast") that will contain canola production/utilization details (e.g., recommended planting dates, planting density, row/plant spacing, major pests and diseases, recommended IPM strategies, high performing varieties, etc.) and results of various studies conducted at university farms and farmers' fields for wide distribution. Additionally, relevant announcements of planned events for canola stakeholders, and important research findings will be posted on ACES (ACES - Auburn University and Alabama A&M University) and AAMU websites and IPM Communicator (quarterly online newsletter) in Alabama, on Virginia State University's (www.vsu.edu, with a link to www.vt.edu) and on Tennessee State University (http://www.tnstate.edu) websites. Factsheets will be developed and distributed to all attendees at field day demonstrations.