RESEARCHERS are exploring how the profitability of growing canola can be boosted through better understanding of the plant's physiology.
SARDI research agronomist Christine Walela and SARDI research scientist Andrew Ware, who are working on the GRDC-funded project which is in its second year, were guest speakers at the Hart Field Day site's winter walk on July 21.
"We're trying to relate canola physiology to technical agronomic management," Mr Ware said.
He said the crop's water use efficiency could be maximised by sowing as early as possible but added they needed a better understanding of varieties best suited to sowing early in different areas and environments.
National Variety Trial sites across SA are testing different canola varieties.
At the Hart Field Day site, researchers are focused on how three times of sowing and nine different varieties will shape up.
The first time of sowing was the middle of April, the second at the end of April and the third in mid May. The trial has been replicated four times at the Hart site.
"We're not only looking at the yield from the different varieties but we're also tracking the development of each of the plants through the season," Mr Ware said.
"For example, for each of the nine varieties, we're observing at what dates they have buds.
"We're also taking biomass cuts at the time of flowering, to look at variety differences in biomass."
The Hart trial has the same structure and times of sowing as the one established at the site last year but climatic conditions have led to different results.
"Last year we had an extraordinarily warm May, and it was fantastic to see how the varieties developed," Mr Ware said.
"Early sown Hyola 575 raced through its development with the warm May conditions, and we were seeing flowers at the end of June.
"Last year, by racing through development, the variety didn't really accumulate enough biomass, and that left it exposed to a series of frosts in the first week of August.
"At the end of the season the yield of the early sown Hyola 575 was half a tonne less than what we saw in the next time of sowing."
But, conditions have been a stark contrast this year.
"This year we've had a lot colder May and a fractionally colder June and July," Mr Ware said.
"So, the maturity in the Hyola 575 has been delayed by a fortnight this year."
