Approach to OSR trials must change to meet N demands: NIAB is investigating the potential to lower N requirements in oilseed rape varieties

摘要

Vigorous early growth and low nitrogen demand will become increasingly important oilseed rape breeding objectives in the future, according to NIAB oilseed crop specialist, Simon Kightley. But a shift in approach to variety trialling might be needed tosuccessfully promote varieties with those attributes. Mr Kightley and his team are examining the performance of eight oilseed rape varieties under low-input regimes as part of a DEFRA-funded project led by Warwick HRI, which is also investigating similar attributes in wheat varieties. The varieties have been selected to represent the widest possible range of available variety types -from hybrids to conventionals, very tall to semi-dwarfs, and very early to very late flowering.