With spring fertilizer prices at or close to record highs for most products, growers may be tempted to reduce fertilizer rates on their canola for this coming season. John Mayko, senior agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada, says farmers who cut fertilizer rates may end up cutting profits.

Mayko points out that higher than average canola prices mean growers will need to use generous rates of nitrogen to achieve optimum net returns. As well, other nutrients such as phosphorus and sulphur must be at adequate levels to optimize yields.

He also emphasizes that today’s hybrids need adequate nitrogen to optimize the yield potential of hybrid genetics.

Research conducted by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Westco Fertilizer indicates improved nitrogen response curves for hybrid varieties compared to open pollinated varieties. This research shows that for a given rate of nitrogen, hybrids typically yield better than open pollinated varieties, and at moderate nitrogen rates, the yield response curves for hybrids are steeper than open pollinated varieties.

Mayko points out however that this same research shows that if nitrogen rates are cut back, yield declines can be more pronounced on hybrids than open pollinated types.

With phosphorus (P) fertilizer prices approaching $1100/tonne this spring, he says growers may be especially tempted to cut back on P rates. He warns however that phosphorus rates need to be adequate to allow for proper early season plant development.

If growers have been applying moderate to high rates of P to their crops in the past, Mayko suggests that replacing some of this year’s P fertilizer with JumpStart® seed inoculant might be a worthwhile option to consider.

http://www.philombios.com/canada/jumpstart/jumpstart.html

Sulphur rates also need to be adequate across all areas of the field. Because of the inherent variability of sulphur (S) within many fields, Mayko recommends an application of 15-20 lb/ac of S as ammonium sulphate, especially if S is only applied when canola is planted in the rotation.

Mayko advises growers to be sure to soil test this year to evaluate the nutrient status of their soil. "Only then can you make the right decision of how much to apply."

Mayko says growers need to figure out the potential profit situation on their farm but in general he says ”with canola at $12/bu, and N costing approximately $0.60/lb, for every 10 lbs of N applied, it will only take half a bushel/ac of additional yield to recover that fertilizer cost, and any yield above that is pure profit.”

For more information on fertilizer rates for canola, go to:

http://www.canola-council.org/contents9.aspx

http://www.canola-council.org/canola_resources/product38.aspx

http://www.canola-council.org/canola_resources/product28.aspx

http://www.canola-council.org/canola_resources/product25.aspx

For more information in your area, contact:

Derwyn Hammond, Manitoba, 204-729-9011

Jim Bessel, North Central & North Eastern Saskatchewan, 306-373-6771

David Vanthuyne, Eastern Saskatchewan, 306-946-3588

Doug Moisey, East-Central Alberta and Northwestern Saskatchewan, 780-645-3624

Matthew Stanford, Southern Alberta and Southwestern Saskatchewan, 403-327-4832

John Mayko, West-Central Alberta, 780-764-2593

Erin Brock, Peace Region, 780-586-3326

This media release is supported regionally by: Alberta Canola Producers Commission; Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission; Manitoba Canola Growers Association; Canola Council of Canada; Peace River Agriculture Development Fund; B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.