False cleavers, Galium spurium, is a major and increasing weed of canola and other crops in Alberta. Based on previous research in France, the European gall mite, Cecidophyes rouhollahi, was selected for field studies in Alberta to evaluate its potential as biological control of false cleavers.
For this two-year study, objectives were to evaluate the effect of seed production practices on canola seed performance, and to assess the ability of germination and vigour tests to predict the field performance of canola seedlots.
Several Lygus species are an important pest of many crops in Canada, particularly of canola and seed alfalfa, including the principal species Lygus lineolaris or Tarnished Plant Bug.
Three years of study have been completed toward developing an integrated management strategy of cabbage seedpod weevil, and to determine aspects of the overwintering biology of lygus bugs and cabbage seedpod weevil.
The effect of root maggots feeding on canola roots has not been fully quantified, but it is clear that large numbers of maggots reduce yield, and can cause plant death.
Canola yields are affected by year to year variations in growing season conditions, but also by many biotic actors on a field scale basis. A three-year Precision Farming study was conducted in Indian Head, Saskatchewan from 2000 to 2002 to look at the effects of nitrogen fertility, management zones, crop plant population, weeds and diseases on canola yields using a field scale approach.
Seed deterioration is the major cause of poor vigor in canola seedlings, which can reduce seedling emergence, crop establishment and yield.
In 1999, there was a trend towards low disturbance seeding and zero tillage systems, and towards shorter crop rotations using canola. Other than the seeding operation, zero-tillers believed that any other tillage operation would destroy many of the benefits of zero tillage.
In this three-year study, researchers wanted to better understand the levels of inputs required to optimize yields of newer open pollinated (OP) and hybrid canola varieties and to enhance producers ability to maximize return on their investment.
The economics of using crop inputs is very important, since using inputs to increase and or protect yield potential is only feasible if it translates into greater net income.
Volunteer canola has become a common weed in western Canada and researchers wanted to find out whether genotype, environment or other factors had the most influence.
Low available water, high heat and drought stresses are factors limiting canola productivity in the Brown soil zone of the Canadian prairies where conventional canola has not traditionally been grown.
