A multi criteria evaluation of the effectiveness of nitrogen and sulfur fertilization in different cultivars of winter rapeseed-productivity, economic and energy balance

Abstract

This article presents the results of a three‐year experiment involving a multi‐criteria evaluation (productivity, economic and energy balance) of the effectiveness of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) fertilization in different cultivars of winter oilseed rape (open‐pollinated, semi‐dwarf hybrid, long‐stem hybrid) grown in north‐eastern (NE) Poland. The yield of the semi‐dwarf cultivar was 11% lower than the yield of the long‐stem hybrid cultivar and 18% higher than the yield of the open‐pollinated cultivar. In all cultivars, N fertilization improved yields up to a rate of 180 kg ha−1 and up to a rate of 230 kg ha−1 in years with low precipitation in spring and summer. Seed yield increased in all cultivars in response to S fertilization at 40 kg ha−1. Higher rates of N fertilizer decreased the content of crude fat and glucosinolates (GLS) and increased the concentration of total protein in all cultivars. Sulfur fertilization increased the content of total protein (in long‐stem cultivars) and GLS (in all cultivars). Production costs ranged from €542-624 ha−1 (≤130 kg N ha−1) to €619-697 ha−1 (≥180 kg N ha−1). The demand for energy in the production of winter rapeseed ranged from 14.5-19.3 GJ ha−1 (≤130 kg N ha−1) to 22.4-27.0 GJ ha−1 (≥180 kg N ha−1).