A meta-analysis of small-plot trial data to examine the relationship between crop development and environmental conditions in canola

Project Summary

Overview

Archived small-plot canola agronomic trial data from across the canola production region will be combined with regional weather data to conduct a meta-analysis to examine the relationship between environmental conditions, canola emergence, and other crop development factors such as maturity and survivability. The effect of specific environmental variables on canola emergence and subsequent crop development will be quantified.

Purpose

This project will address the proposed regionality of agronomic recommendations by quantifying the effects of environmental conditions on canola emergence. A better understanding of how environmental conditions affect canola emergence will allow producers to adjust their management based on the conditions within their operation. Producers will become more profitable by maximizing the value of their seed investment, and by more consistently achieving the target plant population recommended for optimizing productivity. The use of archived canola agronomic trial data would also provide a value-added use of previous research investments.

Objectives

The objectives of this project are to utilize archived canola small-plot trial data and corresponding regional weather data to quantify:
1) The variability in canola emergence rates in response to environmental conditions.
2) The variability in maturity and survivability in response to plant density and environmental conditions, across the canola growing region.